Workplace Equality at iHeartMedia
by Joel Shoemaker, SVP of LGBTQ Initiatives, iHeartMedia
I’m excited to share that iHeartMedia has ranked high on the Human Rights Campaign's 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices relating to LGBTQ workplace equality, with a score of 95.
As leader of iHeartMedia’s LGBTQ initiatives, I’m proud of our commitment to celebrating, advocating and empowering the lives of the LGBTQ community, as evidenced by our numerous efforts in 2016.
Through our continued partnership with GLAAD, we have joined our voices to help accelerate acceptance of the LGBTQ community. This year, iHeartMedia supported GLAAD's Spirit Day initiative with on-air spots voiced by recording artists Lady Gaga, Tegan & Sara, Troye Sivan and others who took a stand against bullying of LGBTQ youth. We also produced and broadcasted messages about Pride season on radio stations nationwide, featuring messages from artists including Katy Perry, DNCE, One Direction, and others.
2016 was a year of growth for our iHeartRadio original station Pride Radio, the entertainment destination for the LGBTQ community. What started out as a digital only station and later the only LGBTQ broadcast radio station in the U.S., Pride Radio quickly gained momentum and as we near the end of the year, can be heard in more than 15 cities, including recently added stations in Austin, St. Louis, Orlando and Philadelphia – and of course nationwide on iHeartRadio.
In our local communities, we continued our extensive involvement in over 50 pride celebration events, including Miami where nationally syndicated on-air personality Elvis Duran was named Miami Beach’s 2016 Gay Pride Grand Marshal.
These are just a few of the reasons I’m proud to work for iHeartMedia. In 2017, we pledge to continue to support and help spread acceptance of our LGBTQ employees, listeners and allies with programs and partnerships that we will implement across the local communities in which we live and work. Here's to an even better 2017!
