Beyond the Rainbow Logo: How Carnegie Museums Affirms LGBTQIA+ Employees and Identities
Written by: Josh Zeigler, Assistant Director of Employer Relations
“We invest in people, not just policies - that’s how we become an employer of choice”
~Ellen Sanin, Internal Engagement Specialist: Culture and Community
Carnegie Museums staff marching at 2025 Pride in downtown Pittsburgh
Pride Month is a time of community celebration and recognition, dedicated to affirming and uplifting the diverse identities and voices that exist within our workplaces and neighborhoods. This work is essential, there’s no doubt. However, as many LGBTQIA+ folks will tell you, this support tends to run dry on July 1st.
As we round out a month of Queer excellence and unity, Career Development is highlighting an employer who truly goes above and beyond to affirm and support their LGBTQIA+ employees and the broader community. By highlighting Queer voices at all levels and ensuring visible inclusion at many leadership levels, Carnegie Museums is leading the way in what it means to be an advocate all year round. Let’s explore how Carnegie Museums goes beyond the rainbow logo.
Highlighting LGBTQIA+ Leadership
From our written correspondence with Ellen Sanin, we found that Carnegie Museums is dedicated to ensuring LGBTQ+ visibility at all levels, including executive leadership such as the VP of Culture and Community, Gina Winstead. Ellen shared that “the presence of LGBTQ+ senior leaders helps create a culture where LGBTQ+ employees feel welcomed and safe.”
Beyond creating visible inclusion, this culture allows the institution to offer a large amount of LGBTQ+ programming that is “supported from the top, such as our annual Pride March, Pride tabling events, and individual museum Pride programming,” according to Sanin.
Support Beyond Pride Month
As many Queer community members can attest, a year-round commitment to Queer excellence and inclusion creates an environment that’s not only more welcoming and open, but also healthier. According to the Louisville Pride Foundation, this sense of belonging makes workers “less likely to experience stress, anxiety, and depression related to their sexuality or gender identity.”
Policies and Programs
Carnegie Museums offers a variety of partnerships and programs to support LGBTQ+ employees and provide education on Queer issues. Additionally, many of these partnerships provide resources and visibility to LGBTQ+ community organizations. Some of these partnerships include:
A “strong working relationship with Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation” to provide SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression) 101 trainings for staff, SOGIA glossaries, and resources for transitioning employees
An “emerging relationships with SisTers PGH” tabling at their Pride events and participating in various community events
Looking to the future, Ellen revealed that the institution is “getting ready to launch ERGs (Employee Resource Groups) at Carnegie Museums because we want to create more opportunities to foster inclusion for all of our employees.” This reaffirms the organization's commitment to LGBTQ+ community members, which is carried throughout the year and becomes an integral part of the organization's culture.
Competing for Top Talent in Pittsburgh
As employers work to retain the top talent in Pittsburgh’s competitive job market, the types of programs and partnerships highlighted by Carnegie Museums are becoming increasingly important. When asked about the institution’s plans to retain LGBTQ+ talent in the market, Ellen described a “plan to continue to have LGBTQ+ programming throughout the year, as well as to continue to uplift LGBTQ+ voices.” Built by “different internal groups…composed of LGBTQ+ individuals,” Ellen and her office work to ensure employees are “giving their input into different initiatives and working to better the museum in many ways.”
This dedication has already resulted in tangible improvements. Ellen described the great success of a mentorship program they began piloting for employees last year. She offered a key insight into the importance of developing peer mentorship, stating, “The more we invest in the leadership development of our staff, the more we can retain top talent and support the growth of our employees.”
Read More About Opportunities and Programs at Carnegie Museums
For those in the job search or looking to enter the market soon, Carnegie Museums offers an outstanding example of what it means to be an employer committed to diversity and advocacy for all employees. We encourage you to check out some of the following links and stories.
Our Commitment | Carnegie Museums
About Us | Carnegie Museums
Available Positions | Carnegie Museums