Virgin Atlantic has updated its gender policy, allowing both crew and passengers to better express their identity.
The company is ditching its traditional uniform requirements, allowing LGBTQ+ workers to dress in a way which best reflects themselves. Staff can now choose either red or burgundy uniforms.
Passengers will also be allowed to wear badges announcing their pronouns, reports the Mirror. Those travelling on Virgin flights can also add gender neutral markers to their tickets if they wish to do so.
Crew, pilots and ground teams will be able to wear uniforms designed by Dame Vivienne Westwood which "best represents them – no matter their gender, gender identity, or gender expression". Virgin says that the move "cements its position as the most inclusive airline in the skies."
The airline has stressed the importance of putting forward policies that reflect the diversity of their workforce, having previously lifted restrictions around visible tattoos earlier this year.
Jaime Forsstroem, a member of cabin crew at the company, 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.”
Badges with pronoun markers will be freely available at the check in desk and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse from today.
In a press release, the company announced that it has updated its ticketing systems to allow for those who hold passports with gender neutral gender markers to select ‘U’ or ‘X’ gender codes on their booking as well as the gender-neutral title, ‘Mx’.
Currently citizens from a small number of countries including the USA, India and Pakistan, are able to hold these passports, and travellers must travel on the codes that match their passport.
"In lieu of passports with gender neutral gender markers being available for all, Virgin Atlantic is implementing a longer-term plan to amend communication preferences to ensure customers are addressed by their preferred pronouns across all touchpoints," the statement reads.
All staff working at Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Atlantic Holidays will take part in inclusivity training, with hotel partners required to complete a series of "inclusivity learning initiatives to ensure all our customers feel welcome despite barriers to LGBTQ+ equality."
The move comes three years after Virgin Atlantic offered cabin crew the chance to choose whether to wear make-up, trousers and flat shoes. More recently the airline lifted restrictions around allowing visible tattoos for crew members and its front line people.
Fashion icons Michelle Visage, Tanya Compas, Talulah-Eve and Tyreece Nye showcased aspects of the new policy in a fashion shoot released alongside the announcement.
Michelle said: “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.”
Virgin Atlantic also offers time off for medical treatments related to gender transition, personal choice of changing and shower facilities that align with the gender a person identifies as, and co-creation of a personalised transitioning plan, for trans members of staff.
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