June is over, and the rainbows have disappeared. Enough celebrating, back to normal? In July, a teenager in Spain is beaten to death because he came across as effeminate, a cameraman in Georgia succumbs to beatings he received while reporting on protests in favor of gay rights, just to mention a few victims of the last weeks. Normal is often brutal. That has to change.

As a company, we live diversity in our daily life and strive for a meaningful, sustainable lifestyle. So, it was just logical to let our logo glow in rainbow colors last month to celebrate the LGBT community, give it visibility and promote its equality and dignity. But we woke up seriously frustrated after this pride month: What’s the justification for happy digital flag-waving while at the same time a young man in northern Spain, a cameraman in Georgia, and many more were killed by the mob. Killed, because they are gay, presumably gay, or simply reporting on a protest of the LBGT community.

How can we still celebrate a happy pride month in Switzerland? Do we live on an island, where these crimes are unthinkable? Unfortunately not: in our country, too, homosexuals are beaten to the hospital. In Zurich, run by a lesbian mayor, it happens every few months. Shouldn’t we, the companies, who adorn ourselves with rainbow colors for a month, do more to reduce prejudice and aggression towards people with different sexual orientations and promote understanding and integration? What do you think?

We have decided that we will not wave the flag any longer without contributing to an organization that protects and promotes the rights of the LGBT community in a country where they are most exposed. But we need to do more, every day. By contributing to the understanding and integration all year round, by not agreeing on stupid comments made, by not looking away when people harass minorities. By speaking out against unfair laws and dealings. And by working for laws that protect LGBT people and put them on an equal footing, for example, in the upcoming vote on marriage for all here in Switzerland.

Pius