DALLAS, June 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines (NYSE: LUV) shows its continued commitment to the LGBT
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) community through its
celebration of LGBT Pride Month in June. The Company is proud to
sponsor an array of Community Partner activities across the nation
that engage the LBGT community. These events take place during the
month of June and all throughout the year.
"Southwest Airlines is proud of our commitment to the
communities we serve," said Ellen
Torbert, Southwest Airlines' Vice President of Diversity and
Inclusion. "We have been a longtime supporter of the LGBT community
and are pleased to champion their work to promote inclusive
environments, and we are proud of the relationships we have with
our local, regional, and national community partners. These
nonprofit organizations work hard to make a positive difference in
the LGBT Community."
To learn more about Southwest Airlines' commitment to the LGBT
community, please visit Southwest.com/gaytravel.
Southwest Airlines celebrates LGBT Pride throughout the
year:
February | Gay Men's Chorus of
Los Angeles (GMCLA), Voice Awards,
Los Angeles
Southwest
Airlines was a proud sponsor of the Voice Awards as GMCLA honored
those who lend a voice to the oppressed, exhibit leadership, and
give hope to those living under the weight of silence.
March-May | GLAAD, GLAAD Media Awards, Los Angeles and New
York City
Southwest Airlines was proud to be a
"Titanium Partner" of the GLAAD Media Awards, which recognize and
honor media for their fair, accurate, and inclusive representations
of the LGBT community and the issues affecting their lives.
May | The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada, Artrageous, Las Vegas
Southwest is the official
airline sponsor of The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of
Southern Nevada in Las Vegas and gives back to the organization
by supporting its fundraising efforts. This community-based
organization supports and promotes activities directed at
furthering the well-being, positive image, and human rights of the
LGBTQ community; its allies; and low-to-moderate-income residents
in Southern Nevada.
May | Human Rights Campaign Las Vegas, Annual Gala,
Las Vegas
For more than six
years, Southwest Airlines has sponsored the Las Vegas Human Rights
Campaign (HRC). HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender people are embraced as full members of society at
home, at work, and in every community.
May 21-June 30 | San Francisco LGBT Community
Center, Pride Month "You Have a Friend at the
Center" Fundraising Campaign, San
Francisco
Southwest Airlines' community partnership helps
the LGBT community and allies support the Center's innovative
services to those most in need and cultural programs. Southwest's
sponsorship supports the Center's "You Have a Friend at the
Center" fundraising campaign and its BOLD Awards Ceremony and
Reception. Southwest also is a proud sponsor of the Center's
Economic Justice Week. Southwest's community partnership supports
the Center's staff development, travel, and volunteer appreciation
in addition to inspiring community members to give.
April-October | Equality California, Equality Awards 2015,
Sacramento, San Francisco, San
Diego, Los Angeles, and
Palm Springs,
Calif.
Southwest Airlines is proud to be the official
airline sponsor of Equality California and all five of its Equality
Awards events throughout California. Lidia S. Martinez of Southwest Airlines was
honored with the Ally Leadership Award at the Equality Awards in
San Diego on June 7.
June 24 | Southwest Airlines, The Power of Inclusion:
LGBT Pride Month Celebration, Dallas
Southwest Airlines and Accenture
will proudly co-host an LGBT Pride Month Celebration featuring
retired NBA player Jason Collins who
will share his personal journey as an openly gay player in the
NBA. This year's event will focus on "Pride in Your Authentic
Self" and will include discussion on being an effective ally for
the LGBT Community. Employees from Southwest Airlines and
Accenture will join at the airline's Dallas headquarters to celebrate and learn
together.
Aug. 11 | National Gay and
Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), 2015 International Business
& Leadership Conference, Fort
Lauderdale, Fla.
Southwest proudly sponsors the
NGLCC's conference, the largest LGBT business development event in
the world, which brings together more than 800 LGBT and allied
entrepreneurs, business owners, corporate representatives, and LGBT
chamber leaders from across the country and around the
globe.
Sept. 24 | Cream City Foundation, Equality Business
Luncheon, Milwaukee
Southwest is the official
airline sponsor of Cream City Foundation and supports its annual
Equality Business Luncheon. The luncheon is an opportunity to
celebrate and promote LGBT inclusive workplaces essential to
growing the talent pipeline to Southeastern Wisconsin.
Oct. 6-8 | Out & Equal,
2015 Workplace Summit, Dallas
Southwest Airlines is proud to
sponsor Out & Equal's 2015 Workplace Summit, an event that
brings together employees and experts from around the world to
share strategies and best practices to create workplace equality,
inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and
expressions.
Oct. 16 | One Community,
Spotlight on Success Local Heroes Awards, Phoenix
Southwest Airlines is proud to
be the official airline sponsor of One Community. One
Community's vision is to create a coalition of socially responsible
businesses and individuals by educating, empowering, and
connecting.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 44th year of
service, Dallas-based Southwest
Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other
air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than
47,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually.
Southwest operates more than 3,600 flights a day, serving 95
destinations across the United
States and six additional countries. Southwest service
to Belize City, Belize, begins October
15, 2015, and Liberia,
Costa Rica, on November 1, 2015, both routes are subject to
foreign government approval.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity while over the United States. That connectivity
enables Customers to use their personal devices to access streaming
music provided by Beats Music or to view video on-demand movies and
television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV
compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest is the only
major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first
and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply,
some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for
qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare
differences might apply. In 2014, the airline proudly unveiled a
bold new look: Heart. The new aircraft livery,
airport experience, and logo, showcase the dedication of Southwest
Employees to connect Customers with what's important in their
lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 42 consecutive years of profitability,
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known
for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's
performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the
communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and
the planet. The 2014 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-celebrates-lgbt-pride-month-300102971.html
SOURCE Southwest Airlines