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B.proud is one of Booking.com’s Employee Resource Groups, dedicated to supporting our LGBTQ+ colleagues and their allies globally. I’m Co-Chair of a 10-person steering committee and between us, our support ranges from activations and educational moments, to diverse celebrations and community connections locally, regionally and globally. We think it’s so important that all colleagues are treated equitably at Booking.com, therefore we partner with the business to ensure our internal policies and procedures fairly represent our LGBTQ+ colleagues.

When taking on the role of co-chair, I felt overwhelmed at how I could possibly support such a diverse global community. So my goal was simple… positively impact 1 colleague somewhere in the world by helping them feel seen, heard and celebrated for who they are. As the months have passed with many different global campaigns and activities spanning the LGBTQ+ spectrum, we have received many messages of thanks from colleagues who feel a sense of belonging to the community across the world. A particular moment of pride was when the community came together to raise 7,000 EUR for a charity supporting the global effort to end AIDS by 2030. A donation campaign of which Booking.com matched the donations euro for euro.

To date, I loved the World Aids Day event hosted by two of RuPaul’s drag queens. The event brought employees together to connect over drinks, nibbles and drag bingo! But the message was clear, HIV is still affecting the lives of humans globally and it’s the stigma of the virus that’s preventing the end. So interlaced in the community spirit of drag bingo, we revealed facts in a flash about HIV and AIDS so that colleagues felt empowered with knowledge to play their part in supporting each other and the world to end this senseless virus which does not discriminate. Raising the amount of money that we did for charity was the cherry on top of the cake.

There was also that time I joined the professional dance crew on the Booking.com Boat during Amsterdam Pride….

Our B.proud Committee works hard to bring a variety of globally accessed content ranging from live streams with business leaders, to fireside chats with LGBTQ+ activists. We also create educational content, videos, infographics and storytelling moments to unite the community. Celebrations span far and wide, where offices across the globe display our Pride Month content and unite employees locally with Pride themed lunches and work socials. We’ve even hired the cinema for a private screening of The Little Mermaid here in Amsterdam where we have our biggest LGBTQ+ colleague community.

For me… pride in the context of the LGBTQ+ community, is the feeling of being empowered enough and safe enough to live the authentic life that we all deserve. In the absence of these conditions, it’s the recognition that you are equal and deserving of equality, just as you are. 

 

 

 

To learn more about how we incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace every day, click here.