Drag Bingo on June 17 was one of the (many) events that were held at the Grand Circle Corporation’s Boston office during Pride Month this year.
What happens when you mix drag queens, Southern BBQ, and corporate conference rooms? Magic, that's what. This June, Grand Circle Corporation turned Pride Month into a wonderful celebration of LGBTQ culture, history, and community—and wow, did our associates show up in fabulous fashion.
The walls of our Boston office came alive with portraits of LGBTQ icons—Marsha P. Johnson's radiant smile, Harvey Milk's determined gaze, Laverne Cox's fierce elegance. Each portrait told a story, turning our hallways into galleries of heroes who paved the way for the freedoms we celebrate today.
A month of firsts
Our Pride Committee pulled out all the stops with a lineup that had something for everyone:
- June 3—Breakfast of Champions: We kicked things off with pastries and bagels from Forge Bakery by Diesel Café, a beloved LGBTQ -owned business that's been serving up community along with incredible baked goods for years. As associates grabbed their morning treats, they discovered fun facts about pioneers like Billie Jean King (tennis legend and equality champion) and José Sarria (the first openly gay person to run for public office in the U.S.—way back in 1961!).
- June 17—Drag Bingo Extravaganza: Then came the event that had everyone talking: Drag Bingo with the incomparable Dottie Ave and Patty Bourrée. Our fifth floor became a glitter-filled wonderland where associates—both in-person and virtual—competed for prizes while our queens kept everyone entertained with wit, wisdom, and enough sequins to blind a disco ball. Who knew shouting "BINGO!" could be so glamorous?
- June 24—Tea Dance Time: We closed out the month with our GCC Pride Tea Dance, bringing a beloved LGBTQ tradition to our back dock (though a heat wave moved us inside to the air-conditioned comfort of the fifth floor!). Sweet Cheeks Q, the queer-owned BBQ spot run by Top Chef alum Tiffani Faison, served up their legendary pulled pork sliders and those biscuits everyone's still talking about. Our Executive Operating Group kicked things off with heartfelt remarks before Dottie and Patty returned for an encore performance.
Faces on the walls, stories in our hearts
Throughout June, associates got to know the heroes whose portraits decorated our walls. We featured trailblazers from every era:
- The Pioneers: Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson, who threw the first bricks at Stonewall. James Baldwin, whose words shaped movements. Audre Lorde, who taught us about intersectionality before we had a word for it. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, still fighting for trans rights at 84.
- The Game-Changers: RuPaul Charles, who brought drag to living rooms worldwide. Ellen DeGeneres, who came out on primetime TV when it could have ended her career. Indya Moore, showing the world that non-binary is beautiful.
- The Now: Lil Nas X, redefining masculinity in cowboy boots. Alok Vaid-Menon, making fashion political. Carl Nassib, the first active NFL player to come out publicly. Raquel Willis, amplifying Black trans voices in journalism.
The walls of our Boston office came alive with portraits of LGBTQ icons.
Community connections
Each week, we spotlighted local LGBTQ organizations doing incredible work:
- BAGLY (Boston Alliance of LGBTQ Youth), supporting young people under 25
- OUT MetroWest, creating affirming spaces for families
- Fenway Health, providing compassionate healthcare
- The Theater Offensive, using performance to transform communities
Several associates have already signed up to volunteer with these organizations—proof that Pride Month plants seeds that grow year-round.
Why it mattered
When asked about the inspiration for GCC's first official Pride celebration, Gabriel Ford-McGowan—Director, Public Relations, the primary organizer of the events, and husband of the incomparable Dottie Ave—had a simple answer: visibility. "GCC does a great job celebrating many cultural moments, but we hadn't yet acknowledged the LGBTQIA community in a way that felt personal," he shared. "There's sometimes a perception that because the community has broad acceptance, formal recognition isn't necessary—but it absolutely is. It matters to show up, honor those who came before us, and celebrate how far we've come."
Gabriel Ford-McGowan (middle) posing with his husband and Drag Queen, Dottie Ave (right), and Meghan Stanton, Senior Vice President of Creative (left).
Likewise, Marcos Paulo Campos—Graphic Designer and co-leader of organizing the events—reflected that, "Co-leading the Pride committee has been a highlight of my work at GCC. The love and allyship among our associates, evident in the joy of celebrating one another, have made GCC a truly welcoming place for everyone."
The power of showing up
And show up, our associates did. The organizers even admitted they underestimated the response! "I underestimated just how seriously GCC takes its bingo—but I should've known better! It was a blast to see so many people let loose, have fun, and walk away having learned something about the LGBTQIA community."
Marcos Paulo Campos (middle) posing with Patty Bourree and (left) and Dottie Ave (right).
In fact, that’s exactly what made this Pride Month so special—how everyone showed up. Remote associates joined drag bingo from their home offices. Executives danced at the tea dance. Teams who'd never discussed LGBTQ issues found themselves in meaningful conversations about equality and inclusion.
Here was some feedback from our associates:
"The Drag Bingo was AWESOME!! I hope that this is done again next year!" – Debbie Roberts, Travel Advisor, Orlando
"I want to share my feelings shortly about how proud I have felt having such an event in the company I work for! Amid the events happening in the world, where no one has a tolerance to another, this event made me feel proud of GCC. Thanks for recognizing differences and respecting everyone no matter what their preferences are and where they are from." – Yagiz Kocak, Worldwide Business Operations
We pride ourselves on our company culture at GCC, and we believe that allyship isn't passive, so the response of our associates doesn’t surprise us much. When non-LGBTQ associates participated in these events, they made a statement about the kind of workplace GCC strives to be—one where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work.
