Danielle Burns, project associate – Pizza Hut Marketing
At Pizza Hut, we are proud to celebrate our LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) employees and allies, and believe that supporting the community is central to bringing your authentic self to work. At our Plano campus (and across Yum!), we have an employee resource group called Yum! Equality Society, or YES!, with the purpose to provide a safe, educated and supportive community where opportunity is unlocked for our LGBTQ+ population. We do this through three main pillars: Education, Volunteerism and Celebration.
Not so long ago, it was not uncommon to hear about individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ experiencing dismissal or discrimination in their community, and even in some instances, at their workplace. In fact, last year, the U.S. Supreme Court heard three related cases and found that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on a protected class, also covers sexual orientation and gender identity. However, this does not cover one’s public and private life, allowing many to feel vulnerable to potential discrimination regarding housing, public accommodations, loans, education and more. At the same time, discriminatory laws are currently making their way through many state legislatures, Texas included, making our fight for true equality even harder.
And this is why the YES! employee resource group is important here at Yum! – it’s a safe place, providing a sense of community and allowing employees to raise awareness of issues and express their thoughts freely.
Our YES! group is excited to celebrate Pride month together with our coworkers at Pizza Hut. Pride month marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, an uprising of the community against police raids of LGBTQ+ bars in New York City in 1969. Every year, we come together to celebrate the progress made in LGBTQ+ rights and we encourage all to take a moment to reflect, listen and learn more about the history of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and Pride.
Our YES! employee resource group will be hosting several employee events this month including a panel discussion with LGBTQ+ community members who will share their personal stories of overcoming obstacles and finding their pride, a lunch-and-learn dedicated to educating others about LGBTQ+ history and ways for colleagues to be allies for this community, a virtual Pride parade and raising the inclusive Pride flag displaying our support for the LGBTQ+ community, and much more!
Pride month is bold, lively, and colorful – but it’s also about educating others about tolerance, LGBTQ+ history and continuing to move forward with equality. We invite you to stand together with us as we live out our company value, “Believe in ALL People.”