Just in time for Pride Month, the transportation company, Lyft, has announced new initiatives and product features as part of its ongoing commitment to inclusivity and the St. Louis LGBTQ+ community.
Lyft's ride-sharing app will now provide inclusive gender pronoun options for both passenger and driver. The national initiative allows both parties to choose from the following pronouns for their profile:
-They/Them/Theirs
-She/Her/Hers
-He/Him/His
-My pronoun isn't listed (edited)
-Prefer not to say
Further, in an effort to better support its transgender drivers, Lyft is offering free name change support via the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE). Lyft is also providing $200 financial support per driver for name change fees, executed in partnership with NCTE.
“We’re proud to give our rider communities the option to select their preferred pronouns, as well as partner with the National Center for Transgender Equality to support our driver community during their name change process,” said Joe Schlichter, Market Manager, Lyft St. Louis. “At Lyft, one of our core values is to ‘be yourself.’ We’re incredibly excited to celebrate and acknowledge the many important eras, people, moments and events that have led to this celebration and show our support for the LGBTQ+ community.”
“We at NCTE are so excited to be working with Lyft on this vital and innovative project," added Mara Keisling, Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. "The legal name change process is an economic and bureaucratic burden on transgender people nationwide. The cost alone denies many people the human dignity of living as their true self and transgender people across the country know the pain of being forced to carry a name that is not their own. We thank Lyft for supporting its drivers in this important recognition of their humanity, their identity, and their liberty.”
In addition to marching in St. Louis’ 2019 Pride Parade on June 30, Lyft will also be sponsoring the first Sunday Supper at the Pride Center this Sunday, June 2nd.
As a company, Lyft places an emphasis on upholding an inclusive and diverse environment - whether it’s during a ride or at a Driver Hub. One of Lyft’s core values is to ‘be yourself,’ and the company is proud to celebrate Pride and the LGBTQ+ community.
According to Lyft employee Nicole Sgarlato, the company has played an important part in her journey, which has come full circle in helping Lyft's efforts to support the transgender community at large.
"I cannot express how grateful I am for taking part in this year's Pride campaign," Sgarlato explained. "Lyft was one of the first job openings I applied to after starting my transition due to their values in diversity and equality. I was ecstatic when I got the job. It was the first time in my life people acknowledged my identity as a woman and accepted me for who I am. Because of Lyft’s inclusive culture, I have been able to gain confidence and strength in my identity that would not have been possible otherwise.”
For more information on Lyft’s Pride involvement, visit Lyft.com/city/pride.