This June, we partnered with our LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group – aptly named Pride – to commemorate Pride Month across our offices. As a company, we believe that a diverse employee base fosters our culture of learning and innovation, and encourages comprehensive decision making. We work to uplift and amplify diverse voices throughout the year and create spaces for meaningful connection with inclusive events and programming and June is a special moment each year where we highlight and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
“We’re passionate about ensuring that Two Sigma is a place where LGBTQ+ people and allies, whether they’re new to the firm or have been long-standing members of our community, are empowered to feel safe, productive, and engaged in their work,” said Teymour Shahabi, the chair of our Pride Employee Resource Group.
We celebrated together during many events that took place across our offices and beyond, with many opportunities for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to connect meaningfully, including:
Drag Bingo
We welcomed Bingo Queen Linda Simpson, a legend of the New York drag scene whose work was recently highlighted on NPR’s Fresh Air, and her assistant Julie to our SoHo headquarters to host a lively game of bingo. Linda and Julie had the whole audience laughing throughout five intense and fun-filled rounds.
The Center Garden Party
Two Sigma is proud to support The Center, New York’s LGBTQ+ Community Center. Members of our Pride community and allies joined together as volunteers to help set up and manage The Center’s 40th anniversary on Pier 76, where guests celebrated Pride with special musical performances.
NY Pride Run in Central Park
Two Sigma colleagues also participated in the 42nd Front Runners New York LGBT Pride Run. The race celebrates LGBTQ+ pride and ongoing efforts toward equality, diversity, and inclusiveness. This year’s race beneficiary, the Hetrick-Martin Institute, provides community, basic needs, health, education, and career services to thousands of LGBTQ+ youth every year. After the race, the Two Sigma team enjoyed a celebratory brunch to toast their successful run.
Happy Hours
Our Pride Employee Resource Group gathered together at our Houston office and at Torch & Crown Brewing Company in NYC to celebrate Pride Month. At Torch & Crown Brewing, colleagues toasted with Rainbows Everywhere, the brewery’s exclusive IPA that honors the Stonewall Uprising.
Year-Round Pride
In addition to organizing these fun celebrations during Pride Month, Two Sigma’s Pride Employee Resource Group continues their work throughout the year by volunteering with the local community, making philanthropic contributions, organizing monthly meetups, and partnering with Two Sigma’s recruiting and career development teams on a number of important initiatives.
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