Embracing community, fostering inclusivity, and honoring diversity during Pride months all summer long

In the U.S. we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community during the month of June. It’s a time when parades, festivals, and fun events bring people together to uplift and reflect on the remarkable achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community. WEX is proud to participate in these celebrations, starting with Saturday’s Pride parade and festival in Portland, Maine, that took place just down the road from WEX’s Global Headquarters. But WEX’s commitment doesn’t stop there. Later this summer, WEX colleagues in Fargo, North Dakota, will join their local Pride events in August. The spirit of Pride is also found across the globe, with WEX celebrations in Brazil, the U.K., and Melbourne, Australia.

Understanding the significance of Pride

Pride celebrations are part of a rich history rooted in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and equality. The first-ever Pride celebration took place on the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Inn uprising, a historic event in New York City. The Stonewall Inn was a popular gay bar in the West Village, which was frequently raided by the police in the 1960s. In 1969, a series of conflicts occurred between LGBTQIA+ protesters and police that spun out of control and led to spontaneous protests by members of the gay community. Before 1980, being queer was a criminal offense in New York City. Stonewall became famous because of the media attention it received and marked a turning point in LGBTQIA+ activism, sparking a nationwide discussion on the need for equality.

Pride Portland! A celebration of accomplishments

In towns and cities across the U.S., Pride celebrations unite communities and foster an environment of inclusivity, accessibility, and support. WEXers have participated in these celebrations, honoring the accomplishments of the LGBTQIA+ movement. WEX is excited to be a part of Pride Portland! 2024, an event that brings the community together to honor the accomplishments of the LGBTQIA+ movement. On Saturday, June 15, passionate WEXers proudly marched in the Portland Pride parade. It was a moving and joyful experience for WEX employees to show support and be surrounded by the energy of the LGBTQIA+ community. As a long-standing sponsor of EqualityMaine and Pride Portland!, WEX is proud to directly support essential programs benefiting the LGBTQIA+ community in Maine. These programs include education initiatives and a youth summer camp. WEX prioritizes supporting communities and organizations focused on social equality, and the company’s commitment to social equality aligns with its core values of diversity and inclusion, which are further strengthened through its ten employee resource groups (ERGs).

Empowering through employee resource groups (ERGs)

WEX has ten ERGs which serve as active communities, acting as touchpoints for various groups across WEX that share interests, cultures, identities, and backgrounds. These groups include: WEX NexGen, Women of WEX, Parents@WEX, WEXPride, WEXVets, Black Growth Council, WEXcessibility, WiT @ WEX, Asian Alliance, and Latin X @ WEX.

The WEX Pride ERG was founded in the Winter of 2019,  and has some great events planned for 2024 including a Drag Queen Bingo social event that occurred earlier this month as well as participation at the Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota Pride Week!

Due to the nature of remote work, many of us most often connect with colleagues virtually. Some sense of community can be lost when we’re all remote, and ERGs help foster community through individualized programming. By participation in WEX Pride, talking to people in different parts of the country, or even the world, WEXers can unite over topics that are important to them, and WEX Pride is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community at WEX.

The strength of allies and inclusivity at WEX

WEX understands the power of allies, and WEX’s Pride ERG is a safe space for allies and LGBTQIA+ individuals alike. The WEX Pride ERG empowers employees through education about the LGBTQIA+ community and ways to support all WEXers.

How WEX Pride Supports the company’s LGBTQIA+ Community

In 2021, WEX Pride organized a presentation about the use of pronouns and suggested a more equitable approach. WEX then took the step of making changes to include pronouns in its administrative tools, and encouraging employees to add a preferred pronoun to email signatures. WEX Pride is hosting a series of events throughout the summer to continue to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community at WEX. With virtual events such as the ERG’s exciting Drag Bingo afternoon, live artistic performances that amplify Queer voices of color, and a Pride celebration webinar, the ERG is looking forward to hosting its Season of Pride at WEX! WEX’s support for its Pride group is meaningful to all of the ERG membership, and WEX Pride members are grateful to work for an inclusive company.

Supporting Pride organizations through philanthropic donations

WEX has a multi-year philanthropic history with community organizations directly supporting the LGBTQIA+ population which include Equality Maine and Pride Portland. Additionally, in 2022, the WEX Pride ERG directed additional charitable funds to these organizations, expanding WEX’s support globally:

• Trevor Project Inc
• Mermaids UK
• Point of Pride
• Outright Action International
• True Colors United Inc

Additionally, WEX’s philanthropy division and the WEXPride ERG partnered this past January to sponsor a second annual Maine Celtics Pride game, which the company also sponsored in its inaugural year in 2023.If you’re interested in working for a growing and global organization that values inclusion, please visit WEX’s career page.