Social Current Book Report: Must-Read Titles to Celebrate Pride Month 

Pride Month is a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ communities and reflect on how workplaces can become more inclusive, equitable, and affirming. This commitment shapes how teams collaborate, how leadership is practiced, and how services reach diverse communities. However, knowing where to start can be challenging. Building truly inclusive workplaces requires ongoing learning, honest self-reflection, and a willingness to examine systems, policies, and culture.  

Whether you’re just beginning your inclusion journey or looking to deepen existing efforts, the right resources can make a meaningful difference. The three essential reads on LGBTQ+ inclusion and workplace belonging presented below can help leaders and teams build environments where authenticity is valued and everyone can thrive. 

To help support your team, Social Current’s Knowledge and Insights Center (KIC) recommends these resources. Log in to the KIC to gain insights from: 

• Business Books Summaries: Featuring book briefs that convey key concepts in 10 pages or less 
• Learning Community Courses: Interactive, self-paced courses to develop essential skills 

Staff at Social Current Impact Partners and organizations that have achieved private, Canadian, and public COA Accreditation should log in to access these resources. KIC access can be purchased individually or as a benefit of an Impact Partnership or COA Accreditation. 

Business Book Summaries 

All Pride, No Ego: A Queer Executive’s Journey to Living and Leading Authentically by Jim Fielding 

In this candid and inspiring leadership memoir, an out and proud LGBTQ+ executive, James Fielding, draws on his own career journey to make a compelling case for authentic, servant leadership. Fielding shares the decisions, failures, and breakthroughs that shaped his leadership philosophy, offering readers practical strategies for owning their truth and bringing out the best in those around them. For social sector leaders, this book is a timely reminder that inclusive leadership isn’t a separate initiative; it is integrated throughout the organizational culture. Whether you’re a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, Fielding’s story offers a model for leading with integrity, curiosity, and courage in ways that strengthen both teams and the communities they serve. 

Access the business book summary. 

Inclusion, Inc. by Sara Sanford 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts often stall because they focus on changing minds rather than changing systems. Sara Sanford, founder of the Gender Equity Now (GEN) certification, offers a different approach rooted in behavioral economics and design thinking that targets the structural and cultural barriers keeping inequity in place. Drawing on data from thousands of interviews with organizational leaders and case studies from certified organizations, Sanford provides practical, evidence-based tools for building workplaces where equity is built into daily operations. This book shifts DEI work from good intentions to measurable outcomes, offering a roadmap for leaders who want systemic, sustainable change rather than one-time trainings or symbolic gestures. 

Access the business book summary. 

How to be an Ally by Melinda Briana Epler 

Creating an inclusive workplace requires action from everyone, not just those from historically marginalized groups. In this practical and accessible guide, Melinda Briana Epler breaks down what meaningful allyship looks like in everyday work life, from recognizing your own biases and interrupting microaggressions to advocating for colleagues and building team norms that make belonging the default. Grounded in empathy and personal accountability, the book offers concrete skills that any leader or team member can put into practice immediately. For social sector organizations, where mission and values are central to the work, this book is a reminder that equity isn’t just a program to implement, but a daily practice that shapes how we show up for one another and for the communities we serve. 

Access the business book summary. 

Learning Community Courses 

If you prefer a more interactive format, take one of Social Current’s on-demand courses. Through the self-paced learning platform, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the key concepts and practices for building an inclusive workplace. 

Beyond Pride: Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community with Action and Advocacy Year-Round 

This mini-course offers strategies to remain authentic supporters of LGBTQ+ rights and honor the community for the rest of the year and not just during Pride Month. Learn practical advice for organizations and individuals who want to live out inclusive values and remain committed to advocacy year-round.  

Knowledge and Insights Center 

Learn more about how the KIC helps social sector leaders and professionals stay informed without becoming overwhelmed. Impact Partners, COA accredited organizations, and KIC subscribers receive access to our clearinghouse library, tailored databases, and more. 

Social Current also offers training, assessments, and consulting around organizational and leadership development to help teams sharpen their strategy, embrace adaptive leadership, build inclusive teams, and more.