LGBTQ+ rights

The Virgin Group and Virgin Unite have a long history of supporting LGBTQ+ rights. From the earliest days of Virgin (over 50 years ago) when Richard Branson opened the then-revolutionary Student Advisory Centre, to Virgin Atlantic becoming the first airline to update its gender identity policy, allowing cabin crew, pilots, and ground team to choose which uniform best represents them – demanding equality and LGBTQ+ rights has been a priority of the group from the very beginning.  

The Student Advisory Centre had a helpline that allowed young callers with problems to retain their anonymity and get help from the right people. Richard fast realised that many young gay people were being ostracised and they wanted to meet other gay people and feel part of a community. It was important to Richard that they were able to accept and embrace themselves, and in turn for others to accept and embrace them, too. He has been speaking up for gay rights ever since. 

Virgin Unite, and the whole Virgin Group has worked hard improve LGBTQ+ inclusion around the world. Virgin Atlantic operated the world’s first Pride Flight in 2019, taking Pride celebrations sky high to mark the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. 

In 2020, Virgin Atlantic helped Open For Business to launch the Caribbean local Influencer Program. This is a multi-year effort to build a strong network of business leaders in the Caribbean to advance the inclusion and rights of LGBTQ+ people in the region. The first stage has developed cutting-edge research and macroeconomic estimates on the ‘cost’ of LGBTQ+ exclusion in the region, to work toward strong – and more inclusive – business and economic outcomes. 

In 2021, Virgin was recognised by Open For Business as a Global Equality Champion for the work it has done to advance LGBTQ+ rights around the world.

Virgin Unite and the Virgin Group as a whole continues to work towards LGBTQ+ acceptance and inclusion around the world.