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Touchstone News

Why We Don’t “Go Rainbow” for Pride Month

  • Writer: Mindy Wara
    Mindy Wara
  • Jun 1
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jun 3

Editor's Note - June 2025

We first published this post in 2023, and its message remains just as vital today. As Pride Month returns, we continue to affirm that our support for the LGBTQIA2S+ community isn’t tied to a season or symbol, but is embedded in our everyday work. This year, as anti-LGBTQIA2S+ rhetoric continues to rise, we remain steadfast in our commitment to practicing solidarity, centering equity, and holding space for repair. Pride, for us, is a practice, not a performance.



At The Touchstone Institute, we are passionate advocates for equity, inclusivity, and anti-oppression - values that guide every facet of our work. These commitments are not symbols or seasonal gestures; they are intrinsic to our mission and reflected in our language, our relationships, and our trainings.


At the heart of our ethos is our anti-oppression statement - one of the six pillars on which The Touchstone Institute was founded. This statement informs our trainings, our relationships, and our commitment to dismantling all forms of oppression.


The Touchstone Institute’s anti-oppression statement, presented in white text on a green background. It affirms Touchstone’s foundational commitment to dismantling all forms of oppression and fostering a supportive learning environment. The statement acknowledges the impact of systems like racism, classism, ableism, and capitalism, and invites participants to join in the ongoing, imperfect work of learning, accountability, and repair.

With Pride Month upon us, many organizations adopt rainbow logos to show their solidarity with LGBTQIA2S+ communities. While we deeply respect those demonstrations of support, we have chosen a different path. You won’t see our logo change this June, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care.


Our commitment to inclusivity and equity isn’t confined to a single month; it’s a year-round dedication to the communities we serve.


Ted Lasso smiles and gestures with both hands facing downward as he says, “We don’t not care,” emphasizing the double negative with playful sincerity.

Our decision to not “go rainbow” in June is rooted in our anti-oppression framework. We believe that being truly supportive of LGBTQIA2S+ communities requires more than awareness - it requires action, accountability, and meaningful integration into every layer of our work.


Two parents cradle a swaddled newborn. One parent kisses the other on the temple while both smile softly, conveying warmth, love, and quiet connection.

This includes using inclusive language like “birthing people” to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender identity, feels seen and respected on their perinatal journey and beyond. It also means acknowledging the violence and discrimination faced by these communities, particularly transgender individuals, and striving to be in solidarity with those most impacted.


We recognize that we are not perfect, and that practicing true inclusion is an ongoing process of learning, unlearning, and growth. As we learn and grow in our anti-oppression work, we understand that making mistakes is inevitable. But we are committed to learning from these mistakes, taking meaningful action, and actively working toward healing.


Accountability and repair are central to our process. If any harm is experienced in our trainings, we welcome open conversations to foster understanding and growth.


Our Pride is not a trend that comes and goes with the seasons. It’s embedded in our values, reflected in our practices, and present in our holistic trainings and consultation services. At Touchstone, Pride isn’t about a logo or a month - it’s about sustained, everyday practice in honoring the dignity and safety of the people we serve.

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