The National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Bar Association will present its Out and Proud Corporate Counsel Award to the American Airlines legal department during a reception Feb. 7 in Dallas.
The award recognizes the legal department’s advocacy for equality for American Airlines employees regardless of their sexual orientation.
Gary Kennedy (pictured), senior vice president and general counsel at American Airlines and its parent, AMR Corp., says in a written statement, “At American, we have a commitment to equality, fairness and inclusion. We are proud to be recognized.”
According to Kelly Simon, the LGBT bar association’s director of development and communications, American Airlines was the first major airline to implement same-sex domestic partner benefits and to include sexual orientation and gender identity in its nondiscrimination policies for the workplace.
Simon also says that GLEAM, a resource group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied employees of American Airlines, was the first of its kind in the airlines industry. She says GLEAM works within American Airlines to promote diversity, acceptance and equality among management, straight allies and other employee groups.
— Mary Alice Robbins
Robbins is an Austin-based freelance writer and a former Texas Lawyer senior reporter.
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