Tech Loves Pride 2024 @ the Vancouver Pride Parade
Kiah McGeer
On August 4th 2024, the city of Vancouver shone brightly with every colour of the rainbow.
It was the 46th annual Vancouver Pride Parade, and the first time ever that Vancouver hosted Canada Pride – both a call to action for the continued advancement of national and global 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and a celebration of our diverse 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
The day was remarkable. For the eighth time, Microsoft Vancouver showed up – and we brought along our friends.
Since 2017, Microsoft Vancouver has spearheaded Tech Loves Pride – a collective of companies who come together to march in the Vancouver Pride Parade together as one united community.
“I have had the privilege of helping lead our Tech Loves Pride initiative from the very beginning,” reflected Amy Gartner, Business Manager in Microsoft’s Bing organization and Tech Loves Pride co-organizer.
“Our first parade entry was a small – albeit mighty – cohort,” remembered Amy. “Over the years, I have seen so much growth in how both we and the tech industry show up to support our 2SLGBTQIA+ colleagues, friends and family.”
From year to year, different partners have made up our collective; in each parade, we’re surrounded by faces both new and familiar. Since 2017, our group has grown from roughly forty to nearly two-hundred people, with employees inviting their loved ones to march alongside us. This year, Microsoft was joined by friends from Demonware, Treyarch, Electronic Arts and SAP Canada to form Tech Loves Pride 2024.
“Being a part of the Tech Loves Pride collective means more than just marching for Demonware; it signifies our unwavering commitment to creating a community where everyone feels valued and respected,” commented Caitlin Ah Sing, Onboarding Coordinator at Demonware. “The Tech Loves Pride collective is a safe space for not only the employees in our organization, but the wider tech community in Vancouver, and we were thrilled to join this year.”
Miguel Sanchez, BTP Director Customer Engagement: Canada & NA Acceleration at SAP, marched with the collective back in year one. “This initiative enables us to unite with fellow tech companies to champion a common cause, amplifying our collective impact and reinforcing the importance of standing together in solidarity and pride,” noted Miguel.
“I returned this year because building community and organizing ourselves matters. The sense of unity and purpose that comes from participating in the Tech Loves Pride collective is unparalleled,” elaborated Miguel. “Each year, we see the profound impact of our collective efforts in creating a more inclusive environment. It’s this opportunity to strengthen our community bonds and continue advocating for meaningful change that draws us back, year after year.”
For Amy, Tech Loves Pride presents both the opportunity and the privilege to stand consistently as an ally with 2SLGBTQIA+ friends and colleagues.
“I march every year to celebrate the people in my life who are out and proud, and to stand in for those people in my life who are not quite ready to march yet,” expressed Amy. “I hope my presence in the parade will continue to let them know that there are allies out there who love them just as they are and who will have their back no matter what comes.”
As a global organization, we are committed to regional impact.
“Tech Loves Pride… our team proudly marches in the Vancouver Pride Parade, celebrating and supporting the LGBTQIA2S+ community. This event is a testament to our commitment to diversity and inclusion, core values that define our company,” contemplated Kate Rayner, CVP, Xbox Games Studios. She views Tech Loves Pride as both a community and a declaration. “By participating, we send a clear message to our current and future co-workers and their families: your identity is celebrated, and you are welcome here. Visibility is crucial, as it highlights the progress made since the first march and underscores the ongoing fight against discrimination. Together, we honor the contributions of the LGBTQIA2S+ community to society and continue to raise awareness about the challenges still faced both globally and locally.”
“Tech Loves Pride shows that we aren’t alone in understanding the importance of showing our colleagues that we actively support each other in the face of discrimination,” shared Murray Meehan. Murray, who’s day job is being developer at the Coalition, Microsoft’s Xbox Game Studio here in Vancouver, has also been a lead for GLEAM’s (Global LGBTQIA+ Employees & Allies at Microsoft) Vancouver chapter for the past couple years.
They, alongside Kate and countless other MSFT colleagues, have witnessed the evolution of Tech Loves Pride since its inception. “I was drawn back year after year by the joyful comments of coworkers who haven’t felt safe attending a pride parade before and were able to attend openly with their coworkers in broad daylight.”
Tech Loves Pride is more than just one day. It’s a community and a platform. Its a testament that inclusion is innovation, and our commitment to creating a more equitable future for everyone.
