Southwest Airlines Celebrates LGBT Pride Month
Southwest Airlines and Accenture co-host an LGBT Pride Month event featuring retired NBA player and LGBT Advocate Jason Collins who will share his personal journey as the first openly gay player in the NBA
DALLAS, June 22, 2015 /3BL Media/ — Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) shows its continued commitment to the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community through its celebration of LGBT Pride Month in June. The Company is proud to sponsor an array of Community Partner activities across the nation that engage the LBGT community. These events take place during the month of June and all throughout the year.
“Southwest Airlines is proud of our commitment to the communities we serve,” said Ellen Torbert, Southwest Airlines' Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion. “We have been a longtime supporter of the LGBT community and are pleased to champion their work to promote inclusive environments, and we are proud of the relationships we have with our local, regional, and national community partners. These nonprofit organizations work hard to make a positive difference in the LGBT Community.”
To learn more about Southwest Airlines’ commitment to the LGBT community, please visit Southwest.com/gaytravel.
Southwest Airlines celebrates LGBT Pride throughout the year:
February | Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA), Voice Awards, Los Angeles
Southwest Airlines was a proud sponsor of the Voice Awards as GMCLA honored those who lend a voice to the oppressed, exhibit leadership, and give hope to those living under the weight of silence.March-May | GLAAD, GLAAD Media Awards, Los Angeles and New York City
Southwest Airlines was proud to be a “Titanium Partner” of the GLAAD Media Awards, which recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the LGBT community and the issues affecting their lives.
May | The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, Artrageous, Las Vegas
Southwest is the official airline sponsor of The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas and gives back to the organization by supporting its fundraising efforts. This community-based organization supports and promotes activities directed at furthering the well-being, positive image, and human rights of the LGBTQ community; its allies; and low-to-moderate-income residents in Southern Nevada.
May | Human Rights Campaign Las Vegas, Annual Gala, Las Vegas
For more than six years, Southwest Airlines has sponsored the Las Vegas Human Rights Campaign (HRC). HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work, and in every community.
May 21-June 30 | San Francisco LGBT Community Center, Pride Month "You Have a Friend at the Center" Fundraising Campaign, San Francisco
Southwest Airlines' community partnership helps the LGBT community and allies support the Center's innovative services to those most in need and cultural programs. Southwest's sponsorship supports the Center's "You Have a Friend at the Center" fundraising campaign and its BOLD Awards Ceremony and Reception. Southwest also is a proud sponsor of the Center’s Economic Justice Week. Southwest’s community partnership supports the Center’s staff development, travel, and volunteer appreciation in addition to inspiring community members to give.
April-October │Equality California, Equality Awards 2015, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs, Calif.
Southwest Airlines is proud to be the official airline sponsor of Equality California and all five of its Equality Awards events throughout California. Lidia S. Martinez of Southwest Airlines was honored with the Ally Leadership Award at the Equality Awards in San Diego on June 7.
June 24 │ Southwest Airlines, The Power of Inclusion: LGBT Pride Month Celebration, Dallas
Southwest Airlines and Accenture will proudly co-host an LGBT Pride Month Celebration featuring retired NBA player Jason Collins who will share his personal journey as an openly gay player in the NBA. This year’s event will focus on “Pride in Your Authentic Self” and will include discussion on being an effective ally for the LGBT Community. Employees from Southwest Airlines and Accenture will join at the airline’s Dallas headquarters to celebrate and learn together.
Aug. 11 | National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), 2015 International Business & Leadership Conference, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Southwest proudly sponsors the NGLCC’s conference, the largest LGBT business development event in the world, which brings together more than 800 LGBT and allied entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate representatives, and LGBT chamber leaders from across the country and around the globe.
Sept. 24 | Cream City Foundation, Equality Business Luncheon, Milwaukee
Southwest is the official airline sponsor of Cream City Foundation and supports its annual Equality Business Luncheon. The luncheon is an opportunity to celebrate and promote LGBT inclusive workplaces essential to growing the talent pipeline to Southeastern Wisconsin.
Oct. 6-8 | Out & Equal, 2015 Workplace Summit, Dallas
Southwest Airlines is proud to sponsor Out & Equal’s 2015 Workplace Summit, an event that brings together employees and experts from around the world to share strategies and best practices to create workplace equality, inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions.
Oct. 16 | One Community, Spotlight on Success Local Heroes Awards, Phoenix
Southwest Airlines is proud to be the official airline sponsor of One Community. One Community's vision is to create a coalition of socially responsible businesses and individuals by educating, empowering, and connecting.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 44th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 47,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest operates more than 3,600 flights a day, serving 95 destinations across the United States and six additional countries. Southwest service to Belize City, Belize, begins October 15, 2015, and Liberia, Costa Rica, on November 1, 2015, both routes are subject to foreign government approval.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate connectivity while over the United States. That connectivity enables Customers to use their personal devices to access streaming music provided by Beats Music or to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a bold new look: Heart. The new aircraft livery, airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what’s important in their lives.
From its first flights on June 18, 1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new markets. With 42 consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found at SouthwestOneReport.com.
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