March 31 is International Transgender Day of Visibility, a day dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of the transgender community while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done. Supporting our LGBTQIA+ community both in and out of the workplace has always been a huge priority for us at Dell. Throughout my over 20 years here, we’ve formed incredible partnerships with organizations that are moving the needle like Texas Competes, Out and Equal, and GenderCool, voiced our opposition against legislation that threatens the rights of our LGBTQIA+ community, and grown our Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) membership by the thousands. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come but as I stated in a blog post last June, we still have a journey in front of us to build a more equitable society.
There has been growing conversation in recent weeks around policies and legislation affecting our LGBTQIA+ community. We have been actively tracking these issues, their impact on team members and citizens and making our position known. As stated in my testimony in front of the Texas House and Texas Senate, we are clear that anti-LGBTQIA+ government policies don’t mirror our policies at Dell Technologies. We know the latest directive on transgender youth in Texas hits home for many of our Texas team members and we’ll continue to offer support to the impacted families.
In the spirit of authenticity and transparency, I wanted to share some of what we have communicated to our own team members. I am so proud to be part of a company dedicated to making the workplace equal for all employees and to ensure we are hiring, retaining, and supporting the very best talent no matter who you are or who you love. Further progress will take all of us and it’s critical that we push forward with true allyship – supporting each other and standing up for those in our communities who need us most right now.
Below is a message Allison Dew, Chief Marketing Officer and Pride ERG Executive Sponsor, shared with our Dell Technologies Pride ERG members on February 25, 2022 and a follow up message sent October 18, 2021.
To: Dell Technologies Pride ERG Members
Sent February 25, 2022
Many of you have seen Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s latest directive related to transgender youth, and I’ve received questions from some of you wondering what we’re doing to voice our opposition. First, we are an active and founding member of Texas Competes and are working with them and other member companies to oppose this directive. We believe in access to more healthcare, not less, and have signed Texas and National letters stating this alongside other major employers and chambers. We are using our collective voices to advocate for equality and inclusion.
We are actively tracking this issue, its impact on team members and citizens and making our opposition known. Everything I shared in October (below) remains true. Please continue to use the resources below – like the Dell Gender Transition Toolkit – to support yourself, your teams and your families. Please feel free to share this note and the resources with others who may find them helpful.
I know there’s a lot going on in the world right now. Let’s continue to lead with empathy and to support each other.
Texas House Bill 25
Sent October 18, 2021
There is currently a bill making its way through the Texas Legislature that deals with transgender youth sports. Texas House Bill 25 (HB25) would require students to play on public school sports teams matching their biological sex assigned at or near birth. We understand this legislation hits home for many Texans and Dell Technologies team members.
At Dell, we believe in fair treatment in the workplace, regardless of race, gender identity or religion. It’s a commitment we mirror in our diversity, equity and anti-discrimination policies, as well as the public policies we support. We have been clear on our position that this legislation and similar legislation in other states do not mirror our policies. Earlier this month, Erik Day, one of our Pride sponsors, testified our position at the HB25 House Committee hearing. We’ve also advocated for the Equality Act and joined Texas Competes alongside 1400+ companies to encourage communities that are diverse and welcoming for everyone including the LGBTQIA+ community.
The emotional toll this law has already taken and will continue to take on our youth and their families will be felt far beyond the walls of our state. We are here to listen and support you during this time. We also want to remind you of resources and benefits available to you:
- Dell Technologies Employee Assistance Plan counselors are accessible 24 x 7 for you, or a loved one at +1 855-910-3355, if you would like to speak with someone.
- Our benefit programs support all team members including transgender and transitioning team members. See the Dell Gender Transition Toolkit.
- Our health care plan provides coverage aligned to the WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) Standards of Care. The coverage includes transitioning dependents, treatment of gender dysphoria from diagnosis and hormone therapy through surgical treatments.
- In addition to our medical benefits, we also offer paid time off policies including leave and disability for our team members who need time to recover from a surgery.
If you would like to connect with other team members who share in your experiences, please don’t hesitate to contact us or your local chapter lead. We’ll continue to work with other business leaders and our communities to support policies that ensure you and your loved ones are treated fairly and feel safe to be who you are, both in the workplace and at home.
