Making Animal Welfare More Inclusive: How We Can Support the LGBTQ+ Community During Pride Month and Beyond

The animal welfare movement is driven by compassion—but to truly embody compassion, we need to extend it to everyone working alongside us.

That means creating an inclusive, welcoming space for LGBTQ+ staff, volunteers, clients, adopters, supporters, and community members.

Pride Month is the perfect time to reflect on how our organizations and the movement as a whole can better support LGBTQ+ inclusion.

Here’s how you can start:

Have Inclusive Policies and Procedures

• Do your nondiscrimination policies include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression? Are your HR practices, employee handbooks, and volunteer agreements LGBTQ+ inclusive? If not, now’s the time to update them—inclusive policies protect staff and volunteers and send a clear message about your values.

• Create a safe and anonymous way for staff and volunteers to provide feedback on inclusivity issues.

• Publicly display your commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with a DEI statement on your website.

Create Welcoming Spaces

• Make sure your adoption forms, application for employment or volunteer forms, and marketing materials use inclusive language (e.g., “partner” instead of “husband/wife").

• Display visible signs of support, like a small Pride flag on the counter or an inclusivity sign at the door.

• Offer gender-neutral bathrooms in your facility if possible.

  
  

Provide Training

• Offer regular training on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), including LGBTQ+ topics.

• Help your team understand issues like pronoun use, gender diversity, and micro-aggressions.

Amplify LGBTQ+ Voices in the Movement

Share and support the work of LGBTQ+ advocates, rescuers, researchers, and artists. Include LGBTQ+ speakers at events and panels. Remember that diverse perspectives only help to grow and strengthen the movement!

Create a Safe and Inclusive Culture

• Speak up against homophobic or transphobic jokes or comments.

• Respect pronouns and chosen names.

• When we build more inclusive spaces, we not only reduce the risk of burnout among staff and volunteers, but we also create a stronger, more resilient, and more compassionate movement.

  
  

Recognize Intersections

Understand that many LGBTQ+ people face additional barriers—like racism, ableism, or economic inequality—that impact their participation in the movement. By working to address broader social justice issues, we make the animal welfare space more accessible and equitable for everyone.

Celebrate LGBTQ+ Joy

• Remember that support doesn’t have to focus only on struggle—celebrate LGBTQ+ creativity, contributions, and historical achievements! Feature LGBTQ+ stories in your newsletters, social media posts, or community events. Celebrate LGBTQ+ holidays or events (like Pride Month or Trans Day of Visibility) within your organization.

Reduce Compassion Fatigue

Did you know that creating a more inclusive workplace can not only boost morale, but also be a buffer to compassion fatigue? When everyone feels that their identities, ideas, and contributions are recognized and validated, they’re more likely to be motivated and invested in their work. And, when they feel safe and valued, they are better equipped to withstand the challenges of emotionally-demanding work. Here are some ways inclusivity acts as a protective buffer against compassion fatigue:

• People are more likely to admit when they’re struggling, overwhelmed, or feeling burned out when they feel they’re in a safe space. Allowing for open dialogue without the fear of being dismissed or stigmatized can go a long way in terms of compassion fatigue prevention.

• Marginalized people often have to carry the extra burden of educating others, dealing with micro-aggressions (intentional or not), and fighting for equality on top of an already hard job. Inclusion means that everyone carries the weight of the work, everyone shares the load.

• Compassion fatigue is difficult for everyone—imagine having to face it alone. Inclusive and connected teams help to create a community that can really protect everyone from the pain of this work.

  
  

Animal welfare isn’t just about saving lives—it’s about creating a kinder world for all beings, human and nonhuman alike. Start by creating a kinder, more inclusive workplace. Not only does it protect against the emotional exhaustion inherent in animal care, welfare, and activism, but when people feel safe, valued, and connected, they can withstand the challenges of this demanding work with more strength, resilience, and hope.

-Jennifer Blough