5 startups with LGBT pride
July 15, 2015Tech startups are always searching to be cutting edge. Refreshingly, many tech startups have applied this open attitude to creating nondiscriminatory employee policies and LGBT inclusive communities. Listed below are five progressive tech startups that embrace LGBT pride wholeheartedly.
1. Lyft
1. Lyft
From the beginning, ridesharing startup Lyft seems to have been screaming its support for the LGBT community with the gigantic pink moustaches that it requires its drivers to fasten to the front of their vehicles. Lyft has confirmed its support in light of SCOTUS’s recent decision, posting on their blog, “Marriage is for everyone. Love is for everyone. We’re honored to stand by this court decision and our colorful community.” Lyft has decided to give its colorful community a little shove towards matrimony by offering soon-to-be wed couples free rides to their local town halls from June 29 to July 2. This month, the company is also partnering with major pride festivals in six cities across the nation, and is profiling one of its LGBT drivers from each city on its blog.The first was Erik of Los Angeles, who, through his alter ego Erika, has been pleasantly surprising passengers with his themed Lyft ride, Driving is a Drag.
2. Airbnb
2. Airbnb
Airbnb has shown its support of the LGBT community since its beginning in 2008. The company has always offeredfull healthcare for same-sex partners and 10 weeks of paid parental leave, regardless of the parent’s gender or whether his or her child is biological or adopted. The company also pays the cost of reassignment surgery for its transgender employees. For two years, the company has sponsored San Francisco Pride. Now, Airbnb has launched its #HostWithPride campaign, which recognizes the troubles that same-sex partners face in finding LGBT friendly countries to honeymoon in. Its film Love is Welcome Here illuminates this issue and demonstrates Airbnb’s commitment to making travel safe and enjoyable worldwide for members of the LGBT community.
3. Square
3. Square
The mobile credit card processing and business solutions startup Square has been well ahead of the game when it comes to progressive LGBT policy. The startup gives domestic partners the same full healthcare coverage as married couples. Also, regardless of whether the child is biological or adopted, all employees can get up to four months of paid parental leave. Further demonstrating the LGBT-friendly community that Square has created is its employee-run, monthly meeting group that has appropriately labeled itself as Squeers.
4. Snapchat
4. Snapchat
On the day of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Snapchat shared the day’s events through none other than a “Marriage Equality” Snapchat story. The video compiled dozens of personal moments around the historic moment: Snapchat users from Capitol Hill to the Castro documented their celebrations and eye-witness accounts, and then sent in their pictures and films to the crowdsourced “story.” The Snapchat story also featured rainbow geofilters, snapshots of the court case’s lawyers, and even a clip of President Obama with the overlying text, “History #shaking.” Thus, the ephemeral photo messaging app has left its own lasting mark. Snaps to that.
5. myGwork
5. myGwork
After they both experienced homophobic behaviors in the workplace, two gay twin brothers, Adrien and Pierre Gaubert, launched London-based myGwork. According to the brothers, Adrien “suffered from gossiping and the stereotypical attitudes from colleagues and Pierre had to deal with very rude sexual jokes from his managers.” The startup is essentially a “Pink LinkedIn” that forms a network between LGBT employees and LGBT-friendly employers. In this way, myGwork is actively promoting inclusion and opportunity across the workplace at large. The Gaubert brothers have made pride their profession.
Published @GeekTime
Published @GeekTime