Team Pumpkin, a digital marketing agency, has taken centre stage for a music video with a strong message this pride Month.
The company organised a collective activity involving Pumpkins from all three branches across Bengaluru, Mumbai, and New Delhi. This was followed by a heartfelt open letter to members of the queer community pledging complete support and acceptance towards them from the organisation. The agency has also announced a few queer-friendly policies created with the needs of their queer team members in mind.
The music video depicts the anger and frustration of the community towards the bigotry and apathy faced by members of the LGBTQIA+ community. They do so to Michael Jackson’s “They don’t really care about us.” The open letter, on the other hand, addresses the queer community, talking about Team Pumpkin’s belief and ethos when it comes to the community, embracing and welcoming them as they are.
Watch the film here:
This year onward, the agency has also introduced “Queerversary”, a policy that entitles same-sex couples to anniversary leaves. The organisation aims to implement many such queer-friendly policies in the coming months.
Every year in June, companies don a rainbow-coloured logo for the month to present themselves as inclusive and diverse. As soon as the month is over, the logo reverts back to its original. Such acts reduce “Pride”, an act of tokenism, one that looks as if it’s a corporate formality. Team Pumpkin wanted to show their support for Pride in a way that was both meaningful and memorable. As a company that thrives on its creative abilities, Team Pumpkin knew that this would mean using an artistic medium to do something for Pride Month.
In a conversation with Puja Nathani, HR Head of Team Pumpkin, she said, “We are delighted to have come together for a cause much bigger than ourselves. As an organisation, it is very important for us to be a safe haven for people who come from different orientations. Everyone is valid and deserves to be treated equally, which is a belief that we did not want to merely say, but show as well. Proudly and loudly.”
Co-founder and C.E.O. Ranjeet Kumar, said, “As an organisation, we have always wanted Team Pumpkin to be a happy place. We can’t call it one unless everyone is made to feel safe and welcomed. This starts with laying a solid foundation that does not tolerate discrimination in any form towards anyone. We take inclusivity very seriously. We ensure that everyone who wishes to be a part of our company is in an environment that allows their creativity to flourish without anything affecting them based on who they are.”
(This information is published from a press release.)