TORONTO - Gay-friendly airlines are in the sky and they’re making life better for the LGBTQ community. With gay culture becoming more mainstream, brands are forced to take their positions and stand as allies or risk being left behind in the dark ages. And those who take a prejudice stand are facing backlash.
North Carolina, for instance, has been receiving a lot of negative attention for its recent anti-LGBTQ bathroom law that violates the rights of transgender folks. So, back in April, Bruce Springsteen made a political stand against this decision by cancelling a concert he was scheduled to play in the state. Canadian rocker Bryan Adams followed suit by protesting with his own tour date cancellation in Mississippi, a state that has adopted a similar anti-LGBTQ bathroom law.
Above: Entertainers like Bruce Springsteen promote and defend causes in the LGBTQ community.
Discrimination has become so passé.
It was back in 2011 when L Word actress and musician Leisha Hailey was removed from a Southwest Airlines flight after allegedly kissing her girlfriend. The lesbian couple issued a statement on their band Uh Huh Her’s website, took to Twitter to vent and gained the support of gay rights activists. Of course, the airline initially issued statements insisting that the problem was abusive and inappropriate language, and not the kiss before back-peddling and reaching out “to extend goodwill” and offering the couple a full refund.
“The Gay Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) pointed out that Southwest is a corporate sponsor and urged everyone to do the right thing,” reported the Guardian newspaper, noting that airlines are running scared from negative publicity.
Social media has played a significant role in amplifying outrage against brands that fail to support marginalized people, from the LGBTQ community to racial advocacy groups. Southwest has since proven to be a huge supporter of the gay community as the official GLAAD airline with outreach programs, fostering LGBTQ partnerships with almost a dozen organizations, and goes as far as identifying as part of the LGBTQ community.
Other airlines are also promoting their pride and proving they’re the preferred picks when it comes to travel. From Delta Air Lines to Air Canada, carriers are doing their best to identify as the LGBTQ-friendliest carrier of the skies.
Air Canada
Airlines like Air Canada consider inclusion in the workplace to be vital if they’re going to succeed in global business. Peter Fitzpatrick, a spokesman for Air Canada, thinks being inclusive is important for employee retention — workers in the industry have rare skills and airlines want to keep them.
“You want to be diverse, you want customers recognized and represented,” says Fitzpatrick. “Good for recruitment.”
Inclusion includes LGBTQ groups, which is why Air Canada has partnered with Pride at Work and supported events like World Pride. Air Canada Vacations, affiliated and a part of Air Canada, belongs to the International Gay Lesbian Travel Association (GLTA) and has worked to create packaged geared for the LGBTQ market.
Selected by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, Air Canada is listed as one of the country’s Best Diversity Employers for 2016. Of course, Fitzpatrick is personally more pleased about The Glass Door Award won in 2016 for top employer.
“Employees voted it as a great place to work,” says Fitzpatrick, “This to me sends the message that people are happy and feel content — a safe place you like to be.”
Delta Air Lines
Committing to annual pride events in multiple cities (New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Seattle, Atlanta, Toronto and more), and claiming proud commitment to LGBTQ employees as well, Delta takes human rights seriously. Delta also proudly supported the Attitude Awards in London last year.
Above: Delta is one of many airlines that have responded positively to the LGBTQ community
American Airlines
With longstanding loyalty to the LGBTQ community, the folks at American Airlines pride themselves in being the first airline to offer a loyalty program “that invites you to highlight LGBT interests” in traveller profiles. They make an effort to engage with LGBTQ travellers and also aim to provide a rainbow friendly workspace.
Alaska Airlines
In efforts to prove their support of the LGBTQ community when it comes to travel, Alaska Airlines offers resources when it comes to sniffing out destinations that support marriage equality, Pride celebrations and other gay interests. They even offer discounts to these places if you opt for their airline to get there.