We were delighted to hear today that our LGBT+ employee affinity group glamazon has been shortlisted for the 2018 DIVA Awards Network Group of the Year thanks to a public vote. Glamazon helps make Amazon a great place to work by educating and informing employees about LGBTQ+ issues and opportunities. The group mentors fellow employees (both LGBTQ+ and allies) and promotes diversity and visibility in recruiting and throughout Amazon via events and fundraising for good causes.
"We're so honoured to have been shortlisted for the DIVA awards this year," said Luca Sale, co-chair of glamazon UK. "Since launching the in UK three years ago, glamazon has grown to be a strong influence across the business, helping LGBT+ and questioning employees feel safe, visible, and supported throughout their career."
Most recently, glamazon and Amazon EU operations team hosted an event at our UK head office called Trans*forming the future to increase the awareness around what UK companies are doing for the T+ in LGBT+, as well as actions that can be taken to improve the professional life of transgender and non-binary employees.
The day opened with a welcome message from our director of HR, Jim Sterner, who made it clear Amazon encourages everyone to bring their whole selves to work, without compromise.
We were also joined by Emma Cusdin, co-founder of transformation UK, who explained why we need a visibility day, whilst Christopher Robinson, EU Ops Learning and Development specialist, lead a session on what Amazon is doing to ensure diversity is more than a buzzword, including giving voice to non-binary and transgender employees around the world, and letting them tell their side of the story.
Amazon Employees from 8 countries livestreamed the event, representing cities like Delhi, Dublin, Chennai, York, Prague, Luxembourg, Hyderabad, Seattle, Tokyo, Milan.
Some of the transgender statistics shared with us during the talks were simply staggering and broke my heart to hear. The fact that we're even hosting these events, however, gives me great amounts of hope that the future can, and will, be different.
"Some of the transgender statistics shared with us during the talks were simply staggering and broke my heart to hear," said Natalie Thrasivoulou, Technical Recruiter for Amazon Video. "The fact that we're even hosting these events, however, gives me great amounts of hope that the future can, and will, be different."
To mark the day, Sophie, a Software Development Manager at Amazon who is currently transitioning, told her story in DIVA Magazine offering insight into her own experience and discussing the importance of International Transgender Day Of Visibility, living an authentic life, dealing with fear of prejudice and what businesses can do better to support transgender employees.
Learn more about glamazon and our work to foster greater diversity across the business.
