At Visteon, Pride Month is much more than just a celebration for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning, intersex, and asexual and/or ally (LGBTQIA+) community. It is an opportunity to continue fostering diversity, equity and inclusion for all employees.
This year’s Pride Month activities focused on education and community service and were organized by the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee (DEI) in Querétaro, Mexico and the Straight Allies and Gay Employees (SAGE) employee resource group at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Van Buren Township, Michigan.
Events kicked off June 1 with the raising of the rainbow flag at the company’s facilities in the U.S., Mexico and Brazil. Throughout the month, the Visteon logo appeared in rainbow colors on social media and in other forums to identify the company as an inclusive and supportive workplace for LGBTQIA+ employees. Weekly virtual lunch and learn sessions were offered, covering current topics and issues facing LGBTQIA+ individuals in the workplace, such as “To Find Success, Embrace What Makes You Different” and “The Importance of Using Inclusive Language.”
Visteon employees in Michigan raised funds and collected school supplies and personal hygiene items for the Ruth Ellis Center, which supports teens who struggle to publicly come out with their identity. The center has successfully supported LGBTQIA+ youth in their journey with healthcare, housing and by fostering a community of safety and acceptance. A company and employee donation of more than $2,500 was also made to the Center.
In Querétaro, event organizers joined efforts with the Municipal Institute to Prevent and Eliminate Discrimination (INMUPRED), an organization that promotes programs, projects and actions to prevent and eliminate discrimination.
Visteon Systems Engineer Ricardo Aguilar, whose blog post provided an employee perspective on Pride Month, said he appreciates the way Visteon colleagues show respect and tolerance to the LGBTQIA+ community.