2022 Pride Month Spotlight: Shifali Patel

Q: How long have you been a member of NACE? What drew you to NACE?

A: I have been a member of NACE since January 2022. I had always heard about NACE from my best friend and all of the wonderful things she has learned from being in the organization. After my first meeting, I knew that being a part of NACE will help me grow not only as a professional in the event industry, but as a person.

Q: What does Pride Month mean to you?

A: A hope for change and hope for progress.

Q: What do you think people can do this Pride Month to raise awareness about important issues that impact the global LGBTQ+ community in the catering and events industry?

A: Understand what it means to truly be an ally, a friend. Build a relationship with your LGBTQ+ couples and ask them what is important to them, ask how you can be more inclusive as a company. It's important to be vulnerable, it's okay to say "Please help me understand", and know that not everything needs label.

Take the time to look at your website, your social media, your inquiry forms, and make sure that you are using terminology that is inclusive.

Most importantly, this community needs to know that you are here for us year round. We do not only exist in the month of June, and I can't speak for everyone, but I would like to see more than a rainbow logo change, we deserve year round content just like everyone else. Show us that you are an ally, that you are a friend, more visibility for us can translate into more business for you.