JetBlue Initiatives in Support of the Queer Community Year-Round
JetBlue is commemorating Pride Month with a series of special events and support for various LGBTQ+ organizations and partners throughout the month of June and beyond.
“At JetBlue, we believe the LGBTQ+ community should be supported year-round, beyond Pride month, and we will continue to stand for the right for every crewmember and customer to feel safe and valued—while ensuring we are marching towards a more equal, inclusive, and just world,” said Icema Gibbs, Vice President CSR and DEI, JetBlue.
JetBlue’s ‘Safe Spaces’ Certification Process with The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative
JetBlue is a long-time supporter of The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI), which leverages the historic significance of the New York City LGBTQ+ landmark to help other communities that don’t have the same LGBTQ+ resources or support. As an original SIGBI donor, the airline was named the launch airline partner for the organization’s Safe Spaces certification program, which identifies travel companies, entertainment venues, food and beverage locations, stores, businesses, and other public venues that put in the work year-round to serve as a Safe Space for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Last year, JetBlue added SIGBI to its roster of charitable organizations on its TrueBlue points’ donation site, where customers can contribute TrueBlue points to any listed charity of their choice.
JetBlue Official Airline of The Center
JetBlue is the official airline of The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center – known locally as The Center. Since 1983, The Center has been supporting, fostering, and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community of New York City and empowers people to lead healthy, successful lives. The Center celebrates diversity and advocates for justice and opportunity.
Along with SIGBI, JetBlue also added The Center to its roster of charitable organizations on its TrueBlue points’ donation site last year, connecting even more customers to the organization’s critical work within the LGBTQ+ community.
Showing Support Nationwide
JetBlue’s support of the LGBTQ+ community also reaches beyond New York City. Over the years hundreds of JetBlue crewmembers and senior leaders have marched in pride celebrations across the country – from New York City to West Hollywood – and will continue to do so this year.
For the first time, JetBlue Vacations and Paisly will join JetBlue, in their backyard of Fort Lauderdale, to support and appear as part of the Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride Parade on June 18. Accompanied by a branded float, festive pride-themed giveaways, and a booth on the parade route, 250 local crewmembers will march in support of equality. JetBlue Vacations and Paisly are proud to strengthen their commitment to the South Florida LGBTQ+ community and its many allies.
Additionally, JetBlue has provided support for a variety of LGBTQ+ nonprofits across the country including Lambda Legal, New York City Anti-Violence Project, NLGJA – the Association of LGBTQ Journalists, OutRight Action International, The Trevor Project, SAGE, and Rainbow Railroad, as well as AIDS Walks in Florida and California. The airline also is a founding member of the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce.
Leading the Way with a New Gender-Inclusive Uniform Policy
Last year, JetBlue rolled out a new uniform policy with a vast range of apparel and hair and makeup preferences for all crewmembers, regardless of race/ethnicity, gender, age, and body type. JetBlue’s gender-inclusive uniform and hair and makeup policy offers crewmembers a combination of uniform pieces, rather than pre-selected items based on binary gender terms. By adopting a gender-inclusive program, JetBlue ensures that all crew members, regardless of gender identity, can feel represented.
Streaming Pride All Month Long
JetBlue is providing customers with even more industry-leading inflight entertainment options with 31 Pride-related features available onboard all month long. LGBTQ+-famous titles include Cabaret, Rocketman, and previous JetBlue Pride partner, RuPaul’s Drag Race, to name a few.
Celebrating 10 Years of Nonstop JetPride
JetPride became JetBlue’s first Crewmember Resource Group (CRG) in 2012, welcome to all LGBTQ+ crewmembers and their allies. JetPride strives to provide mentoring to develop their career paths, support external JetBlue initiatives in the LGBTQ+ community, bring increased visibility to and perspective on LGBTQ+ workplace issues, and advocate for a continued bias-free workplace where LGBTQ+ JetBlue crewmembers can thrive. Last year, JetPride updated its logo to align with the new Progress Pride flag, further emphasizing the CRG’s mission to increase the visibility of LGBTQ+ issues in the workplace.
