2015 Out & Equal Workplace Summit

In late 2013, public attention to the ongoing crackdown on LGBT rights in the Russian Federation and its potential impact on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia increased significantly. Visa found itself in a difficult position, with its role as a sponsor of the Olympic franchise, which made the organization reluctant to engage in taking an official position in public debate. The company’s LGBT employee resource group, Visa Pride, took an active role in engaging leadership to express employee concerns with Visa’s involvement in current events. Visa Pride eventually succeeded in influencing Visa to make a public statement in support of the LGBT community. This influence continued beyond the Olympics, encouraging Visa to sign a 2015 amicus brief in support of same-sex marriage.

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