Introduction to Sustainable Pride Celebrations

We gather together during Pride Month every June to celebrate love and care for our community. This year, it’s time that sentiment extends to include not only people, but the planet, too—which can be as easy as integrating a few of these eco-friendly Pride party tips.

The Impact of Pride Celebrations on the Environment

From small private parties to sprawling public parades, Pride celebrations can take many forms and—as with any communal festivities—they usually involve some snacks, drinks and decorations. Though these things can be a source of joy, unfortunately, they can also have negative environmental impacts that long outlast our celebrations. This holiday comes with a proliferation of single-use plastics—from water bottles and balloons to cocktail straws and bags of rainbow sprinkles—some of which can take up to 500 years to break down and may never completely decompose, as reported by the United Nations.

Simple Ways to Show Love for the LGBTQ+ Community and the Planet

However you’re celebrating Pride Month this year, here are some simple ways to show your love for the LGBTQ+ community and the planet we all share. For those looking to support queer-owned businesses, consider snacks and drinks from these enterprises for your Pride party.

Suggestions For Sustainable Sipping

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organization, which has tracked weather patterns for 175 years, reported June 2024 as the warmest June on record for the globe, and the World Meteorological Organization predicts “above-normal temperatures for nearly all land areas” in June 2025. So, staying hydrated this Pride Month is important, especially for those of us experiencing summer in the northern hemisphere. If there’s one thing you do to prepare for this year’s festivities while minimizing your environmental impact, let it be this: Bring your own reusable water bottle. Beside the fact that a plastic water bottle takes hundreds of years to degrade, the energy used to produce, transport and dispose of these bottles also has consequences for the quality of our air and water, according to the National Institutes of Health. Instead, opt for a reusable bottle, like this one from the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ rights.

When you’re looking to drink something a little stronger, reusable cups are the way to go. If you’re hosting or attending an at-home party, mason jars are an easy and affordable option. However, if glass isn’t advisable for safety reasons, choose paper over plastic and keep an eye out for sustainability labels, like the Forest Stewardship Council, which “ensures that products come from responsibly managed forests”—including these colorful cups. Lastly, when it comes to sustainable sipping, skip the straw, unless you need it for medical reasons. If your cocktail simply wouldn’t be complete without one, stock up beforehand on reusable straws.

Advice For Eco-Friendly Eating

Many of the sustainability practices for drinking can also be applied to eating. If you don’t have enough plates and utensils at your house to accommodate all of your guests, you can find extras for a decent price at a secondhand shop—though this can be challenging afterward if you have limited storage space or you’re hosting an event in a public space, like a park. When single-use is the best option for your gathering, be sure to choose compostable tableware, like these, which can biodegrade in just a few days. Most paper napkins, such as these festive ones, can be composted, but consider getting reusable towels for cleaning up, or washable napkins to elevate your tablescape.

This time of year, bakery displays are brightened by an abundance of rainbow treats, but food dyes and the containers they come in—both of which may be made of petroleum-based chemicals—can have dark consequences for the environment, as synthetic dyes and plastics can contaminate our soil and waterways through their manufacturing and disposal, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. If you’re baking something special for Pride Month, check out Color Kitchen. Its rainbow food dyes and sprinkles are vegan, gluten-free and made with plant-based materials. (The sprinkles also come in home-compostable packaging.) For kitchen composting convenience, pick up your own composting bin and compostable trash bags in advance of your party so that you’re prepared for a quick and planet-conscious cleanup.

Tips For Making Your Rainbow Decorations More Green

Delightful as they may be for a day, balloons can take years to decompose, during which time they pollute our environment and pose a threat to wildlife. This Pride, add color and whimsy to your celebratory setting with biodegradable crepe paper streamers instead—extra points for selecting FSC-certified ones, like these. It wouldn’t be Pride Month without rainbow flags. Consider buying yours from Flags for Good, which uses minimal packaging during the shipping process and donates a portion of sales to organizations that advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, such as GLAAD and The Trevor Project.

Conclusion

While you might not be able to try all of these eco-friendly Pride party tips this year, keep in mind that every small gesture has a big impact—which is all the more reason to celebrate! By making a few simple changes to how we celebrate Pride, we can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of our festivities and show our love and care for both the LGBTQ+ community and the planet.

FAQs

• Q: Why is it important to use eco-friendly products during Pride celebrations?
  A: Using eco-friendly products during Pride celebrations is important because it helps reduce the environmental impact of the festivities, which can include large amounts of waste and pollution from single-use plastics and other materials.
• Q: What are some eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics?
  A: Some eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastics include reusable water bottles, paper straws, compostable tableware, and biodegradable crepe paper streamers.
• Q: How can I support LGBTQ+ rights while also being eco-friendly?
  A: You can support LGBTQ+ rights while being eco-friendly by purchasing products from organizations that advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, such as Flags for Good, and by making sustainable choices in your daily life.
• Q: What are some ways to reduce waste during Pride celebrations?
  A: Some ways to reduce waste during Pride celebrations include using reusable products, choosing compostable tableware, and avoiding single-use plastics.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reported in 1989 that 86% of mothers cited home and family care as the leading reason for exiting the workforce. In 2021, 79% reported the same reason. No working mother decides to step away from the workforce lightly. Unfortunately, women overwhelmingly represent spouses who do not participate in the labor force to provide care. Yet whether driven by childcare needs, elder caregiving responsibilities, or mental health, time away from a career can often lead to one of the most daunting questions, “If I want to go back, how do I return?” The answer: a returnship. A growing trend reshaping how companies welcome back professionals who’ve taken a career pause, returnships give working mothers a chance to brush up on skills and ease back into a full-time job without having to start from scratch. A background gap is viewed as part of the returnee’s unique story.

What Are Returnships?

Returnships should not be mistaken for charitable initiatives; they are strategic investments in experienced talent. They are often recognized as a DEI initiative and talent pipeline driver, particularly for mothers seeking to reenter the workplace with dignity, support, and a clear path forward. Unlike internships targeting early-career candidates, returnships are tailored for individuals with prior professional experience. They have higher expectations and more tailored support, but competition for these roles can be fierce. Returnships are a structured, short-term paid program (usually lasting between 12 and 24 weeks) with specific eligibility criteria and application timelines. Participants are assigned real projects, receive mentorship from senior leaders, and are offered training to refresh technical and soft skills. They are more common in specific fields, such as tech, finance, and consulting. Goldman Sachs pioneered the concept with its Returnship program, which launched in 2008.

Eligibility for Returnships

Working mothers who feel disconnected from their previous industries, lack current references, or feel overwhelmed by technological change are prime candidates. Eligibility requirements vary by company, but returnships typically target individuals with a career break of two or more years. Some programs focus exclusively on mothers, while others are open to any caregiver or mid-career professional who stepped away for personal reasons. Companies often look for candidates with prior industry experience, transferable skills, and the willingness to learn and adapt.

Development of Returnship Programs

Over 100 companies work with Path Forward, a nonprofit that partners with employers to create mid-career return-to-work opportunities. These partnerships include major employers such as Walmart, Netflix, Audible, Amazon, Meta, Apple, PayPal, and SAP. They provide a Returnship Builder tool to assist companies in planning and implementing these programs effectively. Path Forward also helps the working mother returning to work restart their career after taking time off for family responsibilities. They provide resources like career advice, success stories, and the Returnship Matcher tool to help individuals find opportunities that fit their backgrounds and goals. Career coaches advise applicants to tailor their résumés to highlight skills over chronology, emphasize volunteer or caregiving experience, and demonstrate a growth mindset.

Companies Offering Returnships

Several Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders have established returnship programs in recent years, reflecting a broader shift toward inclusive hiring practices. Some of the most well-known include:

• Goldman Sachs’ Returnship program is a paid, 12-week initiative designed for professionals who have been out of the workforce for two or more years and are seeking to restart their careers. The program offers participants on-the-job learning, mentorship, and access to the financial firm’s resources across various divisions.
• IBM runs the “Tech Re-Entry” program, providing access to the latest tools and technologies, helping participants sharpen their skills and contribute to meaningful work. The program is currently offered in several countries, including the United States, Canada, India, China, the UK, Germany, and Australia, with plans for further expansion.
• Deloitte‘s Encore Program is a paid returnship designed for professionals who have taken a career break of at least six months. The program allows participants to refresh their skills through structured learning, and a network of Deloitte professionals supports participants.

Benefits of Joining a Returnship

For mothers reentering the workforce, returnships offer substantial benefits. While foundational skills may have been acquired through college or previous roles, even a short absence from the workforce can necessitate a skill refresh. Industries such as finance and healthcare are dynamic, with frequent updates to automation tools, data dashboards, and software-as-a-service (SaaS) programs. Additionally, regulations and compliance expectations in these sectors evolve regularly due to technological advancements, political shifts, and changes in consumer protection laws. Returnships provide structured opportunities to update these skills and stay current with industry standards. Self-doubt is a common challenge among working mothers returning to the workforce, influenced by external and internal perceptions. Societal biases, often called the motherhood penalty, suggest that mothers are less committed or current in their professional roles, leading to fewer opportunities and stalled promotions.

A New Era of Career Comebacks

Returnships directly address the broken rung in the corporate ladder, where men significantly outnumber women at the manager, director, and C-Suite levels, enabling women to re-enter the workforce at a level that aligns with their experience and potential. They offer a critical on-ramp back into leadership pipelines. Returnships acknowledge a fundamental truth: careers aren’t always linear, and taking a break, especially for caregiving, shouldn’t disqualify someone from meaningful work. For companies, returnships rebuild the pipeline of qualified female leaders, thus diversifying thought at the leadership level and creating more growth opportunities. By investing in returnships, companies send a clear message to women: careers can pause for personal needs, and still progress.

Conclusion

Returnships are revolutionizing the way companies approach hiring and supporting working mothers who have taken a career break. These programs provide a structured and supportive environment for individuals to refresh their skills, rebuild their professional networks, and regain confidence in their abilities. By investing in returnships, companies can tap into a talented pool of experienced professionals, improve diversity and inclusion, and create a more sustainable and equitable workforce.

FAQs

• What is a returnship? A returnship is a paid, short-term program designed for professionals who have taken a career break and are seeking to restart their careers.
• Who is eligible for a returnship? Working mothers who have taken a career break of two or more years, as well as caregivers and mid-career professionals who have stepped away from the workforce for personal reasons, are eligible for returnships.
• What are the benefits of joining a returnship? Returnships provide structured opportunities to update skills, rebuild professional networks, and regain confidence in abilities.
• Which companies offer returnships? Several Fortune 500 companies, including Goldman Sachs, IBM, and Deloitte, offer returnship programs.
• How can I find returnship opportunities? Individuals can search for returnship opportunities on company websites, job search sites, and through organizations such as Path Forward.

Simone Biles, the renowned Olympic gymnast, has been at the center of a heated debate regarding transgender athletes in women’s sports. The controversy began when Biles addressed comments made by Riley Gaines, a former competitive swimmer known for her anti-trans views. Gaines had mocked a Minnesota youth softball team for including a transgender female athlete, prompting Biles to defend the transgender community and advocate for inclusivity in sports.

Last Week’s Online Clash

The online clash between Biles and Gaines started when Gaines commented on a tweet about the Minnesota youth softball team, saying “Comments off lol. To be expected when your star player is a boy.” Biles responded by calling out Gaines for her harassment of youth sports teams and their inclusion of transgender athletes. “Straight up sore loser. You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive or creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports,” Biles said. She also reprimanded Gaines for attacking children, saying “Bully someone your own size, which would ironically be a male.”

The Aftermath

Biles’ comments struck a nerve with Gaines, anti-transgender activists, and the conservative media. Gaines alone has continued to engage since the incident, having posted about the topic on X more than 28 times in four days. She even paired up with known anti-transgender activist and former gymnast Jennifer Sey, who both advocated for Athleta to end its partnership with Biles. On the other hand, Biles was largely silent following the interaction and subsequent online uproar, until she recently addressed her previous comments in a post on X.

Simone Biles’ Apology and Clarification

In her recent post, Biles apologized for getting personal with Riley Gaines and clarified her stance on the issue. “I wanted to follow up from my last tweets. I’ve always believed competitive equity & inclusivity are both essential in sport. The current system doesn’t adequately balance these important principles, which often leads to frustration and heated exchanges, and it didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for,” Biles said. She emphasized the importance of empathy and respect in addressing sensitive and complicated issues, and advocated for sports organizations to come up with rules that support inclusion while maintaining fair competition.

Background on Riley Gaines

Riley Gaines gained notoriety for her fervent anti-trans views after tying for 5th with a transgender swimmer at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. She has been an outspoken critic of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports and has worked with conservative politicians to advance her views. In February 2025, she watched as U.S. President Donald Trump delivered remarks before signing the “No Men in Women’s Sports” executive order, which prohibits transgender women from competing in women’s sports.

Conclusion

The controversy surrounding Simone Biles and Riley Gaines highlights the ongoing debate about transgender athletes in women’s sports. While Biles has apologized for her personal comments and emphasized the importance of empathy and respect, the issue remains a contentious one. As the sports world continues to grapple with questions of inclusivity and competitive equity, it is clear that there are no easy answers. However, by engaging in respectful and empathetic dialogue, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and fair environment for all athletes.

FAQs

• Q: What sparked the controversy between Simone Biles and Riley Gaines?
  A: The controversy began when Riley Gaines mocked a Minnesota youth softball team for including a transgender female athlete, prompting Simone Biles to defend the transgender community and advocate for inclusivity in sports.
• Q: What is Riley Gaines’ background and stance on transgender athletes?
  A: Riley Gaines is a former competitive swimmer who gained notoriety for her anti-trans views after tying for 5th with a transgender swimmer at the 2022 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. She has been an outspoken critic of transgender athletes competing in women’s sports.
• Q: What is Simone Biles’ stance on the issue?
  A: Simone Biles believes that competitive equity and inclusivity are both essential in sports. She has apologized for getting personal with Riley Gaines and emphasized the importance of empathy and respect in addressing sensitive and complicated issues.