Alcoa proud for Pride

Alcoa, the first resources company to march in the WA Pride Parade, will return for the sixth year as a supporting partner.

Resources company Alcoa is continuing to champion LGBTQI+ inclusion in the workplace and community by signing on as a supporting partner with Pride WA for three-years. The multi-year partnership comes as Pride WA celebrates the 30th anniversary of the march on parliament that led to the formation of the organisation and the PrideFest Parade in Western Australia.

Alcoa’s diversity champion and Pinjarra Refinery Manager Mark Hodgson said partnering with Pride WA and participating in events like the WA Pride Parade in November showed the Company’s ongoing commitment to supporting the right for people to be their authentic self at work and in the community.

“Since 2014, members and allies of our employee affiliation group EAGLE (Employees at Alcoa for Gay and Lesbian Equality) have been hitting the streets of Northbridge for the Pride Parade to show support for the LGBTQI+ community,” Mark said. “We can’t wait to be back this year even bigger and better.

Pride WA Vice President Jeremy Wray said the organisation valued Alcoa’s participation, support and advocacy.“Alcoa was the first resources company to march in the parade and it’s been great to see its employee participation grow every year since,” Jeremy said. “Each year the Parade and our other events get bigger and it’s all thanks to partners and sponsors like Alcoa.”

Alcoa has been a driving force behind LGBTQI+ inclusion, particularly in the Peel and south-west region of WA. As well as being a supporting partner for Pride WA, the Company sponsored the 2018 Pride in Peel event, is the major sponsor for Bunbury PrideFest 2019, and has signed on as a sponsor to support LGBTQI+ involvement for 2020 Bunbury Fringe.

Alcoa also sponsors Out South West, an organisation which provides services for LGBTQI+ youth in the South West.

In recognition of its efforts, Alcoa was named as a Silver Tier Employer in the Australian Workplace Equality Index Awards last year, the national benchmarking instrument for LGBTQI+ workplace inclusion.

Alcoa's Australian operations represent one of the world's largest integrated bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminium smelting systems. In Western Australia, it operates two bauxite mines and three alumina refineries adding significant value to the local, state and national economies.


ENDS


Media contacts:

Jane McGuire, Senior Communications Adviser, 0410 694 676, jane.mcguire@alcoa.com
Mika Sangalli, Senior Communications Adviser, 0410 774 424, mika.sangalli@alcoa.com