Bernadette Smith Named 2026 LGBTQ+ Pride Month Honoree by Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza

Bernadette Smith, Founder and CEO of Equality Institute, was named a 2026 LGBTQ+ Pride Month Honoree by Illinois State Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza at a ceremony held in Chicago on June 25, 2026.

The honor recognizes Smith's more than two decades of work advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion and workplace equity across the country.

Smith founded her first business in 2004 as one of the first LGBTQ+ wedding planners in the United States, driven by a belief that everyone deserves to feel safe. What she discovered along the way became the foundation of her career: when people feel safe, they tell everyone.

Today, through Equality Institute, Smith helps organizations create spaces where employees and customers feel safe enough to keep showing up — and to bring their business and their best selves. She is also the author of Inclusive 360: Proven Solutions for an Equitable Organization and creator of the ARC Method®, a framework for building trust through inclusive communication.

"It's incredibly validating to be honored for living my purpose," said Smith. "Thanks to everyone who has trusted me along the way."

Equality Institute is a women- and LGBTQ+-owned training and consulting firm specializing in inclusive leadership, communication, and custom learning design.