ING Italy’s LGBTQI+ Pride

A company’s standing is not measured solely by its performance, international reputation or the number of employees it has. Many other factors contribute to a company’s value: equal career opportunities, pay equity, the wellbeing of its people—which can take the form of support for parenthood and a healthy work-life balance—as well as raising awareness of potential biases within the organisation and initiatives supporting the communities in which it operates.

Companies, together with institutions and civil society, also have a responsibility to create inclusive, safe and respectful workplaces where employees feel heard, welcomed, understood and supported, without fear of being judged for their differences and uniqueness. For ING Italy, the Italian branch of Dutch banking group ING Bank, valuing diversity and ensuring that everyone can freely express their identity is essential.

For this reason, during Pride Month 2026, the group organised numerous initiatives focused on inclusion, allyship and visibility in collaboration with its LGBTQI+ Employee Resource Group (ERG), Rainbow Lions. For the occasion, ING colleagues belonging to the ERG travelled to Milan from around the world. The community was formed organically by employees to promote an inclusive, equitable and healthy workplace where everyone can express their individuality.

ING Italy’s Pride Month
One of the main events organised by ING Italy during this year’s Pride Month was the Building Bridges for Inclusion conference, organised by Rainbow Lions. The event brought together representatives from companies, associations and international organisations working to defend LGBTQI+ rights and freedoms, as well as members of ING Italy’s other ERGs.

The discussion explored topics including the global and local challenges facing the LGBTQI+ community, the value of partnerships between businesses and associations, and the importance of allyship and intersectionality when designing Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging initiatives. Because only by providing safe, equitable spaces that are open to dialogue and exchange can people feel comfortable sharing their experiences and expressing their full potential—while at the same time contributing to the company’s success and to building a more inclusive society.

In addition, at the end of June, ING Italy took part in Milan Pride 2026 as a Gold Sponsor, marching with its own float alongside international members of the Rainbow Lions ERG. At the same time, the internal communication campaign dedicated to LGBTQI+ pride, Pride is for everybody, was launched to encourage all employees to take part in this year’s Pride: an opportunity to come together and celebrate each person’s uniqueness.

Beyond Pride Month: the global #WithPride campaign
Unlike what happens in other contexts and organisations, ING Italy’s support for the LGBTQI+ community does not stop at the month of June, but continues throughout the year. As further evidence of this commitment, in 2025 the bank’s Italian branch received the Milano Pride Pulse recognition, awarded to companies committed to promoting pride, equity and inclusion, as well as events and initiatives aimed at creating a workplace that respects everyone.

At an international level, ING also runs the social media campaign #WithPride, which tells the stories of people within the banking group who, at different points in their lives, have faced labels, judgement, insults and stereotypes. The campaign focuses on language, identity and visibility—concepts that the LGBTQI+ community embraces in order to affirm its authenticity beyond stigma.

Too chaotic? Too strange? Too… different? Well, at ING Italy, all of this is a source of pride, 365 days a year.