I have participated in any number of “diversity events” in the past. Participants are often members of the diversity group you are celebrating (Hispanic heritage? Black history?), along with the diversity event organizers that are putting the event together. This sort of misses one of the goals of holding these events: Sharing the culture with others unaffiliated.
Google hosted a Gay Pride event several days ago. It was held on an open air deck, immediately following the weekly “town hall” event (TGIF) with Google’s founders. So as thousands exited the auditorium where TGIF was held, they entered the space of the Gay Pride event. There were hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and entertainment. A DJ, comedian, dancers, and a grammy-nominated singer (Mary Lambert). People stuck around for hours – the closely-affiliated along with the less-affiliated. Everyone likes a party…
On the topic of sensitivity and awareness about LGBT issues: I neglected to fill in the field for “gender” (M/F) in one of my health care enrollment documents at Google. I got a note indicating that it was a compulsory field for government reasons, but with an acknowledgement and an apology that the gender selection choices were so “limited.” (For my particular case…it was just an oversight; I was perfectly fine just marking “F”…)
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