Amazon is also hosting educational initiatives for employees on Pride Month
Hundreds of Amazon Canada employees joined the in-person return of Toronto Pride this year, as the retail giant marks the month with a string of initiatives aimed at educating and getting employees involved this Pride Month.
On Sunday, 200 local Amazon employees from the company's Glamazon affinity group marched on the streets for the Toronto Pride Parade, which returned after two years of postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Glamazon is one of Amazon's 14 affinity groups that aims to raise awareness about 2SLGBTQ issues and promote opportunities for engagement both inside and outside the company.
The employees who joined the parade came with Amazon's 2022 Toronto Pride Parade float, which was developed in partnership with local 2SLGBTQ+ ally and artist, Natalie Very B.
According to Amazon, the float was designed to depict Glamazon's ethos of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Natalie Very B. called it an "honour" to have been invited to create the "big, bold, and colourful designs" for Glamazon's Pride parade float.
"I hope that my illustrations inspire viewers to accept and love themselves, just the way they are. I want people to be able to see themselves represented in public art. My designs aim to spread the spirit of diversity and inclusion while bringing whimsy and magic to the parade."
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Scarlett Bobo joins the crew
Meanwhile, Canada's Drag Race alumni Scarlett Bobo was also with the Glamazon crew as they marked the return of Toronto Pride in person.
"It's also great that I'll get to spend time with 2SLGBTQ+ employees and allies through Glamazon. It's amazing to see a corporation like Amazon investing in diversity in the office and in the community," said the TV personality in a statement.
Prior to this, Scarlett Bobo visited the company's YYZ1 facility to tour the operations, educate employees about drag, what it means to the community, as well as the importance of Pride Month.
The TV personality also went on to host a Drag 101 for employees in the said facility.
Derek Hooey, Amazon Area Manager and Glamazon Lead, said that they are always looking for "new ways" to empower their workforce and "provide opportunities to partake in initiatives that both support and celebrate members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community."
"Under the umbrella of Stronger Together we are thrilled to celebrate the power of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and voices through a series of initiatives throughout Canada during Pride Month," said Hooey in a statement.
In addition to joining the Toronto Pride March, Amazon also announced that it is hosting a series of planned Pride-focused activities in fulfillment centres across the country. This includes providing education sessions over the history and importance of Pride, 2SLGBTQ+ trivia and bingo, a RuPaul's Drag Race viewing party, catered Pride-themed snacks, among others.