In 1994, a handful of gay and lesbian employees at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio banded together to form GABLE (Gay, Ally, Bisexual, Lesbian and Transgender Employees), an affinity group where workers can feel safe, have a sense of belonging, and feel free to be themselves. Together, GABLE found allies and educated their colleagues, campaigning for equality and striving to change the company culture.
Today, 25 years later, GABLE exists in P&G offices across 50 countries, at 5,000 members strong. As one of the most diverse and inclusive workplaces around the world, P&G aspires to build a better world where #WeSeeEqual – its global advocacy campaign which aims to promote a world free from bias, with equal voice and equal representation for all individuals inside and outside of its organization.
The company has even partnered up with documentary filmmaking group Great Big Story to share the struggles of the community in Cincinnati and how their fight for equality changed the way the company saw the LGBT+ community.
“As an LGBT+ employee at P&G, I feel empowered to work for an organization who shows proactive commitment towards diversity, inclusion and gender equality. We are respectful of everyone — regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race, color, age, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, HIV status or any other legally protected personal identification”, according to Louie Morante, P&G Asia Pacific Regional Brand and GABLE Communications.
Procter & Gamble Philippines has fully embraced this call for inclusion and diversity. To reiterate support for its own GABLE employees and the LGBT+ community at large, P&G Philippines celebrates PRIDE with its own Pride Summit — a panel of LGBT+ advocates and allies such as Boy Abunda, Angie Mead King, Bianca Gonzalez, BJ Pascual, and Missy Maramara — and its participation in this year’s Metro Manila Pride March. These activities, done in line with the company’s #WeSeeEqual campaign, strengthen’s P&G’s commitment to promote equality and acceptance in its internal and external efforts.
Held last June 26, the P&G Pride Summit keynote speaker was veteran TV host and author of Mama’s Gay Boy, Boy Abunda, who shared his coming out story and his experience in surpassing others’ bias. The host also provided insights on how to create a culture and environment of equality, relating historical accounts of LGBT+ movements and the community’s milestones over the years. The host also stressed the important role of allies to achieve full gender equality.
Panel members Bianca Gonzalez, BJ Pascual, Angie King, Missy Maramara, Louie Morante and Kat Quinon, P&G GABLE Philippines leader and advocate, talked about their own discovery journeys and coming out stories, and how they were able to maximize self-expression and achieve their dreams with the help of the different allies in their lives.
Meanwhile, on June 29, P&G marched alongside the Filipino LGBT+ community in the Metro Manila Pride March at the Marikina Sports Center in Marikina City. Going beyond lip service, the company sponsored a donation booth towards the establishment of a Love Yourself HIV testing clinic in Mindanao, offering free HIV screening services and a community center in the region.
For GABLE member and P&G Pride program leader Meir Yap, these efforts only show that P&G is taking the lead on how companies can help further the conversation on equality, and how they can re-evaluate their own organizational practices.
“For now, it’s really an ongoing dialogue. I would say that participating in the Pride March is a huge step for P&G Philippines. Meanwhile, our Pride Summit is one of the avenues where we will be able to further understand how to engage better with the LGBT+ community and how we can create a more equal world for everyone.”
Still, P&G Philippines has always been ahead of the times, with its own progressive policies and benefits to support their diverse employees. The company recognizes domestic and same-sex partners, aside from legal spouses, as eligible dependents for healthcare, medical plan, life & accident insurance, bereavement leave & assistance, emergency loans, housing loans, international relocation assistance and other relevant benefits.
The company also provides the same maternity and paternity benefits to both biological and adoptive parents. Their Flex@Work program for all employees are especially helpful to new parents, or single parents, or parents whose children have special needs because it provides the flexibility they need to care for their family.
“P&G strongly believes in creating a more inclusive world for all people, including the LGBT+ community, where they are valued and celebrated for their contributions as individuals. As an ally from our senior management team, I take it as a personal mission to further inspire courageous leadership and positive action to develop an even more inclusive workplace and community for everyone”, says Lester Estrada, P&G Philippines Country Marketing Director.
Diversity, inclusion and gender equality are also integral to P&G’s corporate and brand communications. These are seen in global and local campaigns from its different brands such as Pantene’s ‘Stronger Now’ featuring transgender Kevin Balot, Joy’s ‘Share a Moment of Joy’ and Vicks’ ‘Touch of Care’.
Estrada adds, “LGBT+ inclusion is important to our business and organization. For our brands, their inclusion is a significant reflection of the diverse consumers in the market. Recognizing this enables us to discover important insights and connect with our consumers in a more relevant and progressive way. For our organization, we believe that if we create a safe and inclusive workplace for all people and for all our employees, we will be able to attract and retain the most talented and diverse workforce that will perform at their peak and be the best at what they do. This is why P&G is consistently recognized among the best places to work.”
The tides are shifting, especially for the LGBT+ community. Around the world, equality laws are being passed, same-sex marriages become legalized, and there are growing opportunities for members of the community that did not exist decades ago.
Still, there is much work to be done for inclusion and acceptance. Yet just as it has done 25 years ago, P&G will be there leading the charge for equality and representation, setting the standard for brands and companies in the Philippines and around the world.
