We’re excited to announce that, for the eighth year in a row, Yelp received a perfect score on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) and earned the designation as a 2022 Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. The Corporate Equality Index is a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
Scoring 100% on this index is certainly an important recognition and annual reminder for us, but we want to let our actions speak even louder. Here are some of the events we’ve hosted to support our LGBTQ+ employee community over the past year:
Queer Leadership Panel
We often talk about the importance of representation in leadership and how that can make a difference in an employee’s and organization’s future. In today’s climate, when the LGBTQ+ community is still fighting for equality across the globe, it’s even more crucial we hear from leaders in the community. We invited queer leaders at Yelp to share their career growth journey as it intersects with their queer identity.
The Rocky Road to Equality
We discussed the difficult path to equality for LGBTQ+ individuals and families. For this, we invited Jim Obergfell and Jess Port, who are both plaintiffs in important court cases that paved the way to LGBTQ+ equality. In addition, we talked to Emily McGranachan from the nonprofit Family Equality. She is a proud queerspawn and has been advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and families for over fifteen years.
Open Dialogue on Rainbow-Washing, Social Responsibility, and the Importance of Being Open to All
There’s no doubt that companies like Yelp help shape our society, but with power comes responsibility. Along with speakers from The Gap, H&M, and The Body Shop, we discussed the realities of corporate rainbow-washing, the responsibility large corporations have to engage in social discourse, and the impact of prioritizing inclusive environments. This panel was organized by Open To All, an organization that builds awareness and understanding of the importance of nondiscrimination laws. They defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All.
Employee Panel Discussion: Allyship within the LGBTQ+ Community
In this employee panel, we discussed how the queer community itself can be kinder to one another. We tuned in to learn more about how colleagues are allowing their full, intersectional selves to shine in the queer community.
Drag Queen Story Hour
In celebration of Take Your Kids To Work Day, we invited Yves Saint Croissant to read a few stories to us. Yves is a longtime member of the Drag Queen Story Hour, which started in 2015 by author and activist Michelle Tea and a handful of Queens in San Francisco. The goal of this group is to inspire a love of reading, while teaching deeper lessons on diversity, self-love, and an appreciation of others. They aim to capture the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and give kids glamorous, positive, and unabashedly queer role models.
Why Language Matters?
At Yelp, we’re committed to using language that creates an inclusive environment. We invited folks from the LGBTQ+ community and allies to join this gathering where we explored language habits that make our transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming colleagues feel welcome and respected.
Workout with Mike from Festive Fitness
We invited Mike Watkins, founder of Festive Fitness & Wellness, a queer- and Black-owned fitness and wellness entity, for a 45-minute workout, giving us a welcome boost to our mood and energy. Mike (he/him) is a licensed athletic trainer, injury rehabilitation specialist, manual therapy expert, and sport business professional, whose passion for growth inspired him to create Festive Fitness & Wellness last January.
A Yelp Conversation on the Intersection of Race, Gender, and Queerness
In the spirit of championing intersectionality, we wanted to shine a light on Black LGBTQ+ voices and elevate the voices of queer Black women at Yelp. Intersectionality has a huge impact on how we navigate our personal and professional spaces. Panelists shared some of their unique experiences as Black queer women that represent the diversity of the community.
Wellness Rituals in the Workplace
For this workshop, we partnered with Zami and Miss Jai from Spiritus Wellness, a Black- and queer-run consultancy. We learned how and when to implement wellness in the workplace, tools to decrease stress and anxiety, and how to establish healthy boundaries while working remotely. In the end, we were invited to set intentions to create balance in work and home environments.
Pink Wednesdays
We’ve been hosting regular virtual Pink Wednesday chats where our OUTburst community gets together and discusses topics that are top-of-mind. We also welcome allies to join these chats and love when they use this community as a resource to help better understand certain topics.
