Virgin Atlantic is letting its crew “express their true identity” with an updated uniform policy eschewing gendered clothing requirements and is handing out pronoun badges to make sure they are inclusive as they charter the woke skies.
Men can wear skirts and women can wear trousers – anything goes. Non-binary staff will have an increasing number of options in uniforms as well. What that exactly entails is anyone’s guess at this point.
Mandatory inclusivity training is now being forced upon all staff at Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic Holidays, as well as inclusivity indoctrination for tourism partners.
Glitzy advertising with choreographed crew members pushing the non-gender message heavily to the masses is being utilized.
Virgin Atlantic has teamed up with RuPaul’s Drag Race star Michelle Visage in an effort to “reflect the diversity of its workforce” and “offer its people a fluid approach to its red and burgundy uniforms, meaning LGBTQ+ colleagues will be able to choose either the red or the burgundy uniform, depending on which best reflects themselves.”
Optional pronoun badges enabling staff and customers to flaunt their chosen identity are being rolled out. They can be requested at check-in.
An announcement by Virgin Atlantic describes it as “an ongoing drive to champion the individuality of its people and customers” which includes allowing more customers to select the gender-neutral “Mx,” “U,” or “X” markers when booking their flights.
The company is boasting that its actions make it “the most inclusive airline in the skies.”
Reactions by real, everyday people, however, have been mixed. Not everyone is a fan.
The option for gender neutrality and badges is available to all who have passports with “gender neutral gender markers.” That includes individuals from the US, India, and Pakistan, but not the UK, according to the Daily Mail.
All of this is part of Virgin Atlantic’s “Be Yourself” campaign. The airline also was the first in the UK to allow staff to display tattoos at work.
Jaime Forsstroem, who is part of the Cabin Crew at Virgin Atlantic said, “The updated gender identity policy is so important to me. As a non-binary person, it allows me to be myself at work and have the choice in what uniform I wear.”
Michelle Visage commented, “As the mother of a non-binary child, and as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, these efforts by Virgin Atlantic to further inclusivity for its people are extremely important and personal to me. People feel empowered when they are wearing what best represents them, and this gender identity policy allows people to embrace who they are and bring their full selves to work.”
“I wanted to support this campaign to effect change in this world,” she said in a video promoting the policies. “I have a trans-non-binary child so for me changing the world is my job as a mum and as a friend and an ally.”
“This policy allows everyone to have a seat at the table. It’s not taking away from anyone, it’s just allowing everyone from the community to just have a voice,” Tyreece Nye, who is a non-binary performer and activist, stated.
First Officer Alison Porte equivocated, “It’s not about canceling anyone. It’s not about removing women or removing men. It’s just about more inclusive language.”
“At Virgin Atlantic, we believe that everyone can take on the world, no matter who they are,” Juha Jarvinen, Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Commercial Officer asserted. “That’s why it’s so important that we enable our people to embrace their individuality and be their true selves at work. It is for that reason that we want to allow our people to wear the uniform that best suits them and how they identify and ensure our customers are addressed by their preferred pronouns.”
Reporting from BizPac Review.
