Thousands
of Googlers, Gayglers (LGBT Googlers), and their families and friends took to
the streets last month to participate in Pride parades and celebrations around
the globe. Pride had a special buzz this year, as DOMA and Prop 8 were struck
down by the Supreme Court three days before the parades, marking an important
step toward equal rights for all.
We
supported our fellow Gayglers and others around the world with recording-breaking
attendance at parades in San Francisco (well over 1300 Googlers and allies) and
New York (500+ participants). In other parts of the world, we marched in
celebrations in London, Budapest, Dublin, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo Rainbow Week2013. We floated along the canals in Amsterdam Pride parade, marched in the
Mardi Gras parade in Sydney and will gather in Hong Lim park for Singapore's
3rd annual Pink Dot celebration.
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| New York Pride Parade |
We had some
big firsts this year all around the world as well:
- Gayglers hosted a Pride@Google Speaker Series for the month of June, where speakers ranging from NFL stars to community leaders to Prop 8 Plaintiffs Kris Perry and Sandy Stier came to share their messages at Google.
- LGBT celebrations were held for the first time in Hyderabad and Google was there! In India, our contingent of over 30 people made it to the cover of many local newspapers.
- Though we have participated in Sao Paulo’s Pride parade in previous years, this year, Google was proud to be the first corporate sponsor thanks to the hard work of the Sao Paulo Gayglers. More than 100 Googlers marched—doubling participation from last year.
- Google participated for the first time in celebrations in Mexico City, Paris and Hamburg.
- We kicked off a collaboration with two founding partners called 'We Are Open' in Hungary that joins together companies, organizations and communities that are committed to openness. More than 100 organizations signed up to make a stand for diversity and we'll show our united front at Budapest Pride on Saturday, July 6.
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| London Gayglers |
Our LGBT
efforts are not just once a year during Pride, either. Earlier this year, we
worked with Creative Lab to create a grassroots employee video for TheFour.com,
an organization supporting marriage equality in the four U.S. states where it
was on the ballot this past year. Google also co-wrote an article to the United
States Supreme Court explaining why Gay Marriage is Good for Business. We supported
the citizens of France by hosting marriage ceremonies over Hangouts and we
recently launched a YouTube Spotlight Channel and campaign, #ProudtoLove,
dedicated to celebrating LGBT Pride.
We’re proud
of all our Googlers and excited about what was accomplished this year! We’re
glad to have ended Pride month on such an inspiring note of equality.
Posted by
Heather Cain, Diversity Team
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