June 9 2025 Kickoff
Inclusion isn’t a headline. It’s a receipt! And this week, the receipts are rolling in. From AI lawsuits to silent Pride exits and gender pay gaps that won’t budge, it’s clear: performative doesn’t pay.
But here’s the good news: we’re not powerless. We’re watching, we’re building, and we’re holding receipts of our own. This week is about choosing your signal: empty gestures or powerful proof.
🎯 Theme of the Week: Pride, Power & Paychecks
We’re in the messy middle. Pride Month is here, but some logos have vanished. DEI teams are shrinking. And that flashy AI hiring tool? It might be your next legal liability.
This moment calls for real leadership.
Your challenge this week: Don’t just fly the flag—check the foundation. What’s standing behind your message? Systems? People? Or silence?
🔥 Key Quote: "Inclusion isn’t performative. But it is persistent."
📰 This Week in Shambles (And Small Wins)
💔 Corporate Pride Fizzles
From New York to San Francisco, organizers are getting ghosted. Sponsorships are down. Rainbows are quiet. Target toned it down. Lowe’s bowed out.
But then… there’s Patagonia. Deutsche Bank. Benefit Cosmetics (who came back after public pressure). Real ones. Quiet, steady, still here.
💡 Shamble turned win: When sponsors dropped out, local queer-owned businesses and grassroots partners stepped in. Some Pride parades may be smaller this year—but they’re more authentic than ever.
⚖️ Mobley v. Workday Gets Real
A judge certified the lawsuit. Age bias, algorithmic harm, and class-action status. The ripple effect? Every HR tech buyer is now asking: Is our AI vendor about to get us sued?
💡 Shamble turned win: This lawsuit is pushing every employer to take AI governance seriously. That’s a long-overdue wake-up—and we love to see it.
💵 Pay Transparency Still Isn’t the Norm
New laws are spreading (hello, New Jersey!). But most employees still feel in the dark. LGBTQ+ folks earn 16% less. Trans workers, 23% less. Gen Z? They’re done tolerating secrets.
💡 Shamble turned win: Secret salary spreadsheets are going viral. Workers are talking. Employers are getting wise. Truth has momentum.
💬 Top Soundbite: "We’re not witnessing a mere dialing down — we’re witnessing withdrawal, with a few exceptions... the exuberant displays of support we saw five years ago have been replaced by passivity, silence, or strategic invisibility.We are seeing the unravelling of conditional support.”
But we’re not going anywhere.
Gif by LindoYes on Giphy
🧠 The Strategy Set
This week’s checklist: “Proof Over PR”
What DEIB claims are on your site? Can you back them up?
Have your AI vendors delivered actual bias audits?
Are salary decisions tracked and transparent?
Is your ERG funding stable and growing?
Have you talked to your people, not just about them?
Gif by JoeMillionaireFOX on Giphy
🛠️ Your 1% Win Take 5 minutes today and ask yourself:
“What’s one invisible system in my org that could either reinforce or reduce bias?”
Document it. Share it with someone who will hold you accountable.
Then fix it—or redesign it to support equity.
Small steps, big ripples.
📣 Share This With…
“…the exec who still thinks a rainbow logo counts as culture.”
Or the one who just found out AI can discriminate and is already sweating.
🎤 Final Mic Drop
The applause is easy. The systems are hard.
But here’s the truth: no law, no logo, no algorithm is more powerful than a team that’s built on clarity, care, and courage.
This week, lead with receipts. Because performance fades. Proof builds legacy!
Let’s build something that lasts.
See you soon!
Jackye 💜
Gif by VeeFriends on Giphy