LGC’s Pride Month Spotlight

Wow, we can’t believe Pride month is coming to an end already! 

In case you missed it, throughout June we’ve been highlighting some of the incredible employees at LGC who belong to the LGBTQ+ community. So far this month we’ve met Cat, Sean, and Charlie; It’s been great to get to know them better and learn why Pride is so important to the community.  

For the final part in our series, we’re going to hear from Jenene, a proud ally with a close tie to the community.  

Meet Some of LGC’s LGBTQIA+ Employees

Name: Jenene Rutherford
Position: Senior Executive Recruiter | Permanent Placement Division
LGC employee since: March 2021 

About 

My name is Jenene Rutherford. Though I do not identify as LGBTQ+ myself, I am an ally and supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. I come from a very open-minded and loving family where we were taught to love people based on their character and kindness. My brother came out when he was 17 – 30 years ago when it was not as accepted as it is now to be queer – but I knew when we were very little that I had THE MOST special brother of all the people I knew.  

Over the years my LGBTQ+ tribe has grown, largely because of my brother; and I could not be happier to have all my chosen family in my life. In addition to my brother, my baby cousin, came out to me last summer and I am happy for her and her partner. I just think it’s all about loving the person not the personal details. 

What does Pride Month mean to you? 

Life is a simple formula for me…to show kindness, compassion, and to love and be loved unconditionally. However someone finds or chooses that in their life (and with whomever) makes me happy for them. In whatever way I can offer that to my loved ones, that is what I choose.  

Celebrating Pride month means joining those that I love and all other members of the LGBTQ+ community in sharing and celebrating them in the journey of being free to be themselves. It has involved a long history of fighting the good fight for equality, learning to be open minded on both ends, and ultimately inclusion and community. Celebrating my LGBTQ+ loved ones July-May, well, that’s just a blessing to me. I feel that everyone should be free to be themselves and everyone deserves to be proud of who they are. 

What are the benefits to being openly supportive of the LGBTQ+ community? 

I for one, have been so blessed by my LGBTQ+ friends and family beyond measure. They have, in every instance, brought my life support, kindness, joy, generosity of spirit, laughter, love and growth. Who doesn’t want to have loved ones like that? I also think that being openly supportive reflects my values of inclusion, love and kindness. It creates a space for me to also live authentically. 

Do you have any thoughts on how employers can better support the LGBTQ+ community?  

I think that is very simple. Meet people where they are and love them for the gifts and strengths they bring LGBTQ+ or not. LGC is a very inclusive company, and I am blessed to work alongside of several LGBTQ+ community members. It isn’t made a big deal of, but my LGBTQ+ colleagues are celebrated and supported in their uniqueness, and there is a beautiful humanity in that. That’s what it’s all about isn’t it? People being celebrated for bringing their best selves to the table. 

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We hope you enjoyed getting to know some of the amazing LGC team members throughout Pride month as much as we did. If you’re looking for ways to create a more inclusive workplace for your LGBTQ+ employees, check out this article from Forbes. Happy Pride!