We are proud to hear from caregivers across the Providence family of organizations that our workplace welcomes everyone. From inclusion to connection, here are some of the ways we celebrate and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community in our workplace and within the communities we serve.

Encouraging caregiver pride

Walking the halls of any Providence facility, you’ll see caregivers showing their LGBTQIA+ pride in many ways. Sometimes it’s a pride flag at a workstation, other times, it’s as simple as a pin.

Charge Nurse Afton, who works at Providence St. Mary Medical Center in Walla Walla, Washington, says she’s proud that Providence encourages caregivers to wear pins that identify their preferred pronouns. Says Afton, “I think it’s really important, not only for my coworkers, but also for the patients that we serve so that anybody can feel comfortable here, that anybody can excel here.”

Joining one of our LGBTQIA+ Caregiver Resource Groups (CRGs) is another way caregivers cultivate their pride. Senior Communications Specialist Brendan says that his Southern California chapter is “a casual group that gives caregivers a chance to show their pride in who they are and where they work.”

At Providence in Alaska, Chaplain Jamez, says what he loves about his CRG chapter is “getting to connect and know people who would not otherwise be in our professional spheres and having safe space to speak about our experiences.”     

And Clinical Research Nurse Isa’s LGBTQIA+ CRG in Oregon has a “very active” chat for her 340-member-strong chapter. “We have access to community support from a large network of caregivers that represent multiple, diverse roles.”

Fostering pride through education and advocacy

When he was a kid, Providence Swedish Physician Kevin Wang recalls his family doctor asking him during visits if he had a crush on a girl at school.

“I already knew I liked boys,” Dr. Wang says. “It made me feel like, ‘Oh, is there something wrong with me?’ I didn’t feel like I could be open with him.”

Dr. Wang and many others work to combat that non-inclusive approach in both patient care and caring for our employees through a myriad of education and advocacy efforts. One example is Providence Swedish’s LGBTQIA+ Program, which provides specialized clinical support to teams to ensure caregivers are up to date on the latest advancements, so they can deliver high-quality care to LGBTQIA+ patients and foster a culture of inclusivity among caregivers.

Says Dr. Wang, the program’s medical director, “Health care organizations need to become more informed about the LGBTQIA+ community.”

Alexandra, Providence Swedish Senior Project Manager and co-chair of her chapter’s Seattle-area CRG agrees and says that her group conducts internal advocacy efforts for greater visibility and support for all LGBTQIA+ caregivers and providers with leadership.

“We’ve advised on policy changes and training materials for caregivers,” says Alexandra. “We’ve developed LGBTQIA+ branding, signage and articles to use for expanding CRG and LGBTQIA+ awareness to other caregivers and providers.”

Pride in our communities

We want to make sure that our LGBTQIA+ caregivers are understood and loved in their communities, as well. That means extending our education efforts to caregivers’ family members and volunteering in the cities and towns in which caregivers live.

Says Covenant Patient Access Manager Jessica in Lubbock, Texas, “Not everyone in our group is part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Many caregivers are allies and/or have family members in the community and they want to learn how to create a safe space for them. A lot of sharing, learning, and compassion happens during our meetings and our gatherings.”

Another way caregivers connect with and educate communities is by volunteering throughout the year. Brandon says his chapter plans its volunteer calendar every six months. And Providence Swedish in Western Washington regularly sponsors local events such as Trans Pride.

Systemwide during Pride month in June, communities will see a big Providence family of organizations presence at Pride celebrations across our seven-state footprint. For example, Senior Project Manager Mary-Grace says, “We participate in Pride every year, where we join several celebrations in different service areas throughout Eastern Washington and Montana.”

Ultimately, Mary-Grace says all of her group’s activities are designed to “drive inclusion, awareness and education, and deepen diversity at Providence by amplifying the voice of LGBTQIA+ caregivers via a connected and empowered community.”

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