WHAT DOES PRIDE MEAN TO ME? AMAZON' S LGBTQIA+ NETWORK AND ALLIES
Nicky Harris Customer Service Agent – Amazon Customer Services, Virtual Contact Centre Ireland
Cork LGBT+ Festival is one of the highlights of the Irish Pride Calendar and here at Amazon we can’t wait to celebrate, take part in and support this festival. I come to this as an ally to all LGBT+ friends but in particular the Trans community which means that I come from a place of privilege to learn and support the trans members of our society. Working in Amazon gives me an opportunity to help us all acknowledge the difference and make us better at understanding how we can do that in our day to day working and personal lives. For example, our everyday use of pronouns. My wish for this Pride celebration is that we learn how we can make inclusivity a lived experience for all. The last year has been particularly challenging and isolating, let’s make this Pride Festival a truly happy one, where we can all celebrate acceptance, our love for one another and our continued striving to do better for all
Barry Lynch Site Lead, Amazon Customer Services
JP McCarthy Customer Service Team Manager, Amazon Customer Services, Glamazon Chapter Lead I’m the chapter lead for Glamazon Cork Campus and DEI Champion. Pride for me is a celebration of how far we have come as a society and what we have achieved as a community. It’s also a time to highlight that there is still much more to do. It demonstrates acceptance and tolerance. I’m proud to lead the Glamazon group for the Cork campus. Amazon Cork has a diverse workforce and it offers a vital resource for the LGBT+ community within Amazon. It also showcases Amazon’s LGBT+ acceptance. It enables employees to engage with LGBT+ peers and allies across the globe. I am the Site Lead of Amazon’s Customer Service office in Cork and also a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. For me, Pride is a celebration of the progress we have seen in LGBTQ+ rights over the past 30 years in Ireland. It's not a celebration of a job that is complete but very much, still a work-in-progress. Pride month is the perfect opportunity to shine a light on those parts of the world still fighting for true equality. At Amazon, given that we are a large multi-cultural organisation, our default setting is to celebrate what makes each of us unique. Pride is another opportunity for us to showcase that fact and reinforce the message that Amazon is an Ally.
our LGBT+ friends. Daphne Tambling Supervisor - Amazon Seller Partner Support
To me pride means loving and sharing your unique self. I am proud to be part of Amazon Selling Partner Support, a company which respects and promotes diversity and encourages everyone to represent their true colors. A team which understands the importance of helping people who struggle to be honest with who they are. Our community of colleagues who are friends that encourage everyone to feel secure and aware that they are not alone. I am proud to be part of an ever growing virtual community committed to impacting positive change across our global network. Spread the love and joy of who we all are. Tricia Brady Senior Content Developer - Device, Digital & Alexa Support When I first joined Amazon I wasn’t sure about what to expect from a LGBTQ+ support perspective. While I was out at the time, I was still finding myself and so entering a new work environment was a little daunting. I needn’t have feared as I quickly realized Amazon not only supports members of the LGBTQ+ community, but celebrates them. It is truly a place where you can feel comfortable expressing your true self. This is true not only in our Cork offices, but for Amazon globally. Over the years the support for the LGBTQ community has grown, from the Glamazon affiliate group to the inclusion on a pronoun field in our internal employee directory and everything in between, and it shows no sign of stopping any time soon. Pride in Amazon is a time to celebrate our diversity, share our stories, and being our true selves, and while we have to celebrate apart this year we will still celebrate.
Keith Linehan WW Continuous Improvement Program Manager – Amazon Customer Services
I’m a proud member of Glamazon Cork as well as the Amazon Cork Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee. Pride is a time for all LGBTQ+ to celebrate our true selves, to be visible in our communities and to have one hell of a party. Homosexuality was only decriminalized in Ireland three years before I came out. So when I celebrate Pride I always remember that I get to march in the parade because of the incredible work of those who fought and continue to fight for equality for LGBTQ+ people in Ireland. Of course, not all LGBTQ+ around the world are as fortunate as us. Pride also serves as a beacon of hope and a catalyst of change to those experiencing discrimination and homophobia globally. Pride makes me I realize how privileged I am and to stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ communities around the world whenever I can.
Begona Pascual Registration & Compliance Operations Investigation Specialist
I’m a member of the Glamazon affinity group for Cork. As part of the LGTBQ+ community and RCO team, Pride is a reminder that me, you and every single human is valid, seen, and respected. For me, Pride means human rights. The situation for LGTBQ+ people around the world is not equal. Some countries embrace equality and in others, LGTBQ+ people continue to suffer from discrimination, persecution and violence. Pride is also a reminder that we are still fighting for those who can’t live with the privileges that we enjoy, loving who we want to love, and identifying ourselves how we feel to. Remember: You are valid, loved and seen. Chris Poyntz SPS Employee, Seller and Brand Support, Seller Support Services Being a member of the Glamazon affinity group, Pride for me is a celebration and acknowledgement of people who fought hard for LGBT+ rights, past and present. We’ve come a long way in Ireland over the last 30 odd years but many parts of the world are not as fortunate. Pride helps us remember how far we’ve come and also acts as an example that love in all forms is to be celebrated and not hated. Damien Keane Customer Service Team Manager, Amazon Customer Services Pride allows me to be open and proud about who I am and it is because of attending previous Pride events throughout the years that I have even arrived at this conclusion. Pride allows us all to just be ourselves, regardless of whether or not you are LGBT+, it is colorful, loud, everything that LGBT+ people have not previously been allowed to be. Working for Amazon also reflects this for me as you are never judged for your differences, if anything they make you more valuable. You don’t need to be brave to be yourself here because you are expected to just be you but by having this safe space, we have been able to achieve a place of openness, kindness and inclusion for all involved. I am very proud to be part of a company where every colour of the flag is welcome and provided an equal opportunity.
Sara Gamboni Recruitment Coordinator, Amazon Cork
Being part of the recruitment team, as well as part of the LGBTQ+ community, it's really important to me to work in a company that understands, respects and promotes inclusivity and diversity. I've always felt I'm working in a safe place, where I can express myself, be who I am and talk freely about myself and my partner, without any judgement. Amazon is an inclusive workplace that allows space for different communities, as well as allowing people to set up their preferred pronouns in their profile page.
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