My community impact: Championing LGBTQ+ parents and families

Dan Booth, a talent acquisition manager in Toronto who focuses on campus recruitment, shares his passion for seeking a community of support and inclusion for LGBTQ+ families. 

Since 2019, I’ve had the honour of serving as lead for Canadian Pride, RSM Canada’s employee network group (ENG) that promotes an LGBTQ+ inclusive culture and empowers its members to be their authentic selves. Last year I applied for a grant, on behalf of Canadian Pride, from the RSM US Foundation’s Community Impact Fund. Leveraging my leadership role within Pride, I sought matching funds to support the Northern Mosaic Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about LGBTQ+ issues and people throughout Canada’s Northwest Territories. In addition, I submitted an application for a grant on behalf of Pride in the U.S. and Canada, to support another local LGBTQ+ organization called COLAGE, an acronym for Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere.

As a single father to a six-year-old daughter, I believe it’s important for us to have access to a supportive community that resonates with our family structure, while allowing us to embrace our true selves without concerns of bias or judgment.

RSM Partner Kerensa Butler, who previously served as the RSM Pride leader, developed the relationship with COLAGE to support Family Week, a week-long summer experience for LGBTQ+ families held annually in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

This highly anticipated event unites hundreds of gay, lesbian, bisexual and trans families for a week of immersion in their own social circles and communities. It also provides youth the opportunity to connect, have fun, learn and interact with other kids whose parents are LGBTQ+ or allies. When I look at the impact these events make by showcasing all kinds of families and see colleagues volunteering alongside other RSM families and clients, building new connections with families similar to their own, I am truly inspired.

I am thrilled that both grant applications were accepted and approved, further highlighting RSM and the RSM US Foundation’s genuine support for Pride’s initiatives to help diverse LGBTQ+ communities and families. This funding truly makes a difference and reinforces RSM’s commitment to a culture of inclusion within our company and within the diverse communities and businesses we serve worldwide.