Jun 05 2025

Pride and Professionals: Providing Affirming Care

By Tee Rogers

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

What does Pride Month mean to you as a professional in your industry?

I recently heard a powerful story from someone who, after years of being dismissed, encountering assumptions, and facing inappropriate questions from professionals, finally felt heard and seen when sharing their identity with a professional they could trust. Their sense of relief, of being truly acknowledged, highlighted a critical truth.

Each experience of living as a minority identity in American culture is nuanced & unique; however, being overlooked, discriminated against, othered or marginalized, or financially penalized by professionals is, unfortunately, all too common. Whether you’re being served by a doctor, a mechanic, or, in my field, a deathcare professional, there should be no sliding scale of compassion, respect, or expertise based on identity.

You should never have to wonder, for example, if the phlebotomist is going to make the blood draw painful because they don’t like your rainbow tattoo or your Atheist pin (in my volunteer work coordinating blood drives, i hear this particular concern often).

As professionals, our commitment must be to provide the highest standard of service and care to every single person before us.

What does this truly mean – this month, focusing on our LGBTQ+ clients?

It means actively listening to their stories, educating ourselves about unique needs, honoring lives and relationships authentically, and honoring family structures and preferred names & pronouns without question. It means being affirming, educated providers that every member of our community can trust. Not just this month, but always.

As an affirming deathcare planning advisor with a background of DEI work and advocacy for LGBTQ+ communities, I’m here to ensure you and your loved ones receive the compassionate, respectful, and expert guidance you deserve. I’m a call or text away if you have questions. Also, you can visit the workbook i authored, the Identity Affirming Deathcare Directives, for information and resources.

LGBT Older Americans

Not only am i dedicated serving to LGBTQ+ communities, i also have achieved being a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), a national certification for professionals who serve older adults. Many of the families i serve of all identities are aged 55+, so continuing education on experience and resources is essential to my commitment to next-level service for my clients.

Representation of identity diversity and a genuine commitment to inclusion among professionals and within industries isn’t just ‘nice to have’ – it’s fundamental. It promotes positive outcomes, builds trust, fosters equity, and ensures that everyone receives the dignified, human-centered service they deserve.

This Pride Month, and every month, let’s recommit to creating truly inclusive and affirming spaces where all are celebrated, seen, heard, and supported.

If you would like more information on becoming an affirming provider, seek resources in your community. Here in Central Florida a great place to start is The Pride Chamber – an intentional network of LGBTQ+ and allied professionals and businesses working to uplift and learn from one another, providing educational, immersive, and professional development opportunities and programs. Learn more at https://thepridechamber.org.

Come learn about The Chamber’s impact and programs at the June 27th State of the Chamber Luncheon: