Queer inclusion in the workplace and industry is integral to attracting, supporting, respecting, and retaining Queer professionals – and supporting Queer communities.
Their perspectives and leadership can have a profound impact on how the built environment can be considerate of and safe for Queer and other marginalized identities not typically engaged in architecture and design. These principles informed the initial Pride Talk in 2022, which has now grown into a robust industry engagement program led by Queer speakers and committed employers.
Framework Leadership‘s Pride Talks is an employer engagement program designed to support Queer representation, allyship, and awareness in the workplaces of architecture practices, engineering firms, and the broader construction (AEC) industry. Its mission is to “celebrate and elevate Queer (2SLGTBQIA+) Leadership and Inclusion in the Workplace and Construction Industry.”
The first Pride Talk in 2022 reflected concepts for equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace for Queer professionals. Framework Leadership’s industry-specific research reflected how mentorship, leadership, and workplace culture are experienced by these communities. The presentation illustrated concepts that impact Queer professionals’ experience and career opportunities such as mentorship, access to opportunities, and representation. Nine employers and two industry non-profit organizations participated, reaching over 5,000 industry professionals in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Building on this momentum, Pride Talks expanded in 2023 and 2024 with more than thirty organizations participating to date – many returning each year – and additional presentations to select from. The expanded presentation options intentionally cover more dimensions of Queer identities and issues, informed by a survey of Queer professionals and their colleagues to determine what topics are needed. While some of these companies had had a long history of supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion, others were new to doing this from a workplace culture and leadership perspective or with a focus on Queer and Trans communities.
This year the Pride Talks season opened with an Industry Keynote by celebrated designer and design advocate Adam Nathaniel Furman.
Adam co-edited, along with Joshua Mardell, Queer Spaces: An Atlas of LGTBQIA+ Places and Stories and has earned a great deal of recognition for their work and their contributions to improving the professions. Notably, they were recently recognized as an RIBA Honorary Fellow.
In this talk, Adam “unpacked and broadened the concept of Queer Spaces from Queer-oriented nightlife venues to a whole plethora of urban and architectural scenarios” and interrogated the topic through the lens of “a career spent attempting to address queerness within the world of design and public space procurement.”
“It was fantastic to hear from the incredible designer, Adam Nathaniel Furman, in the Framework Leadership Pride Talks. They explain through a mix of personal experiences, stories and their work on the power of safe Queer Spaces. I really enjoyed it and found the whole hour raced by, as I was fully engaged all the way.”
– Marsha Ramroop, Founder of Unheard Voice
This talk is one of a growing list of topics and community of speakers. While Pride is at times reflected predominantly by white cis-gendered gay men, Pride Talks has had an intention from the beginning to reflect the diversity and intersectionality within Queer communities.
Each speaker brings a unique opportunity for employees to engage with knowledge and approaches to support Queer communities in the workplace, industry, or in the outcomes of their work. Outside of Pride Talks, speakers each have a history of supporting Queer communities and contributing to better industry culture through their professional work – spanning practicing AEC professionals, to academia or business – and their volunteer commitments.
List of Speakers and Topics:
- Adam Nathaniel Furman (they/them): Queer Leadership x Queer Spaces (United Kingdom)
- Allie Kennington, EIT (they/them): Towards Support and Representation of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Professionals (Ottawa)
- Gavin Bejaimal (they/them): Reflections and Intersections of Queer Identities (Toronto)
- Jacq Brasseur (they/them): Démanteler les obstacles au travail pour les professionnels transgenres et non binaires (Regina)
- Kudzai Matsvai (she/her): Language Matters – How Architects Use Language as a Tool for Gender Inclusion or Exclusion (United Kingdom)
- Mazdak Chinichian (he/him): Fostering Psychological Safety toward an Inclusive Workplace (Montreal)
- Michelle Liu (they/them): Unlocking our Professional Obligation to the Queer Public Interest (Ottawa)
- Nyasha Harper-Michon (she/her): Challenging ‘Reference Man’ and Advocating for Queer Inclusive Cities (Toronto)
- Russell Pollard (he/him): Workplace Culture, Leadership and Inclusion for LGTBQIA+ Professionals (Toronto, United Kingdom)
- Stephanie Jonnson (she/her): Improving Accessibility from a Marketers’ Role (Toronto)
- Stevie Thompson (they/them): Reimagining Gender: Breaking Down the Gender Binary (Vancouver)
“The Pride Talk was packed full of interesting insights that were so incredibly helpful and thought provoking, particularly for me as an ally and someone who works within the HR space. Russell is highly knowledgeable and presented the talk in an engaging way, with a great selection of visuals to walk us through the different aspects of the discussion.”
– Attendee, HTA Design LLP
“Nyasha is passionate, energetic, and thought-provoking. Her session on ‘Reference Man’ is impactful in encouraging us to challenge the existing norms of engagement and design, and it provides some practical examples of how to improve the spaces we design to be more inclusive and welcoming. She is a thought leader and an inspiration.”
– Charles Marshall, Partner, DIALOG
“Allie’s presentation on the support of Trans and Gender Non-conforming professionals was amazing. As a Trans person, it really reflected my lived experience and helped educate others.”
– Attendee, WSP Canada
Every year, contributions are made to organizations and initiatives that support Queer communities – either in the industry or in broader society.
Pride Talks are primarily about employee engagement and awareness toward Queer inclusion and representation. A secondary objective since their inception is to contribute to initiatives and organizations that support Queer communities and their inclusion. A portion of revenue is donated to such programs.
This year the two organizations supported were The ArQuives (Canada) and Queer Britain Museum (United Kingdom). Both are institutions that support the preservation of and public engagement with 2SLGTBQIA+ histories and artefacts.
Previous initiatives and organizations supported by Framework Leadership:
- Rainbow Railroad
- Toronto Society of Architects (Pride Committee)
- Liu-Kennington Award for the 2SLGBTQ+ Engineering Community (Scholarship)
- Building Equality in Architecture Toronto (BEAT)
- Society of South Asian Architects Canada (SOSA)
- Black Architects and Interior Designers Association (BAIDA)
Pride Talks has established itself as a trusted initiative to advance Queer representation and inclusion within the architecture, engineering, and construction industries.
By engaging over thirty organizations and reaching thousands of industry professionals, Pride Talks has broadened its scope and impact since its inception in 2022. The program’s commitment to celebrating diverse Queer voices and addressing the specific needs of various identities demonstrates a deep understanding of the complexities and beauty within Queer communities.
Pride Talks has a broad representation of speakers and a variety of topics that span a spectrum of Queer experiences. The program not only educates but also contributes to more inclusive and supportive workplace cultures. As Pride Talks moves forward, its ongoing contributions to Queer-focused initiatives and partnerships reaffirm its role as a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and action at the individual, organizational, and industry levels.
WSP Canada – through their 2SLGBTQIA+ Employee Resource Group, VIBE Canada – has collaborated with Framework Leadership three consecutive Pride Seasons. We have been delighted by the rich content, thought leadership, and outstanding service offerings we receive! The annual Pride Talk series features relevant and insightful dialogue that matters in our industry. Our teams came out of these sessions enlivened and full of ideas! We recommend Framework Leadership’s webinars without hesitation!
A note from Framework Leadership:
Thank you to all the individuals and organizations who have contributed to, supported, and participated in Pride Talks over the years.
What started as an online ‘lunch and learn’ to KPMB Architects in 2020 has since become a program that enables Framework Leadership to support Queer inclusion, representation and leadership in our sector. We are proud that many employers have participated since the start and that they trust us year after year to support their Pride season programming and acknowledgements.
Together, we are creating opportunity for Queer speakers to represent their communities and for Queer professionals to be seen and heard, for colleagues to support each other, and to contribute to a more inclusive industry culture for current and future Queer professionals.
