June is National Pride month marking Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride events across the country as communities across the United States remember the June 28, 1969 Stonewall Riots of New York . For those who do not know about Stonewall and why we as a community celebrate pride each year, know that the Stonewall Riots were protests and violence demonstrations against the Police of NYC after they raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwhich Village. Although Stonewall was owned by the mafia and not a gay establishment, Stonewall welcomed gays and drag queens; and the LGBT community saw the Stonewall raid as a targeted attack against the LGBT community.
The Stonewall Riots are often seen as the catalyst to the long and ongoing LGBT fight for equality, after years of anti-gay legislation that was passed in the 1950s and 60s. To memorate this, LGBT and straight allies come together to each June celebrate equality and continue the fight for LGBT rights.
This June, as Pride events kick off across the nation and even world, American Airlines is showing their pride and support for the LGBT community by “going gay” and showing their support on Social media and on their inflight entertainment systems.
AA’s twitter and Facebook homepages
American Airlines’ social media profiles started sporting the rainbow, an icon taken on by the LGBT community, on June 1, 2015.
American Airlines has the highest Human Right Campaign (HRC) corporate equality index score of 100. HRC has ranked companies since 2002 and has has become a roadmap and benchmarking tool for U.S. businesses in the evolving field of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality in the workplace. Very few companies receive the perfect rating of 100, like American Airlines has achieved.
In addition to sporting the gay flag, such as those found on all lgbtq flags, throughout social media, American Airlines went a step further this month with special “pride” programming on their seatback entertainment systems. The Pride month special entertainment includes special interest such as live concerts by gay artists and icons such as Sam Smith & Kylie Minogue, stand up comedian by Rosie O’donnell, movies, such as movie Angels in America and Pride; and TV shows including Looking and Glee.
This is the first time I have seen an airline paint themselves gay and include special LGBT inspired entertainment onboard! I highly welcome this month’s Pride enhancement and thank AA for showing its support in the continual fight for LGBT equality!
