The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) community has a rich history. And HealthPartners and Park Nicollet are proud to celebrate it at Twin Cities Pride each year. In fact, we’ve been part of the festival for more than two decades!
“We are very proud to have such a strong history with Pride,” said Deanna Varner, Community Relations Manager at HealthPartners. “Team members from across the organization are always excited and eager to volunteer. More than 150 join in annually. And most bring their families along, too.”
These colleagues staff our organization’s booth. There, they answer questions about our care services. And they hand out fun giveaways like Frisbees. They also walk the 1.5-mile parade route.
Core to HealthPartners’ culture is this: Every person welcomed. Every person included. Every person valued. It’s at the forefront of how we strive to work with our members, patients, colleagues and broader community. And it’s why we have various efforts in place to address and reduce LGBTQ health disparities, like:
- Offering a gender services team to help patients reach their transition goals.
- Building and continuing strong partnerships with LGBTQ organizations.
- Providing education and support to everyone who works with us.
This work is why we were named the 2018 Corporate Champion of Pride. And we’re committed to keep on strengthening and adding to our efforts in the years to come.