OREANDA-NEWS. October 12, 2016. Today, Intel celebrates National Coming Out Day. As part of this year’s observance, Bev Crair, vice president of the Software & Services Group and general manager of the Strategic Software Programs Initiatives, shared her experience being welcomed into the Intel family as an LGBTQ employee and founding the Intel Out & Ally Leadership Council. Crair writes:

“I’m proud to be part of a company that places a high value on individual contribution. A place where LGBTQ employees know they can be themselves and provide value and encouragement to those coming up the success path behind us.”

At 9 a.m. PT today, Crair will host an internal forum with Gilbert Baker, the creator of the Rainbow Flag. The flag is a powerful symbol of the LGBTQ movement, and this conversation will be an informative session where Intel employees can discuss their experiences with their fellow employees and look back on key milestones in LGBTQ history.

National Coming Out Day serves as a reminder that one of the most basic tools for the LGBTQ community is the power of coming out. At Intel, we are proud to continue to show our support for the LGBTQ community and honor the courage of all who have come out as LGBTQ or as a straight ally for equality. We all need to speak up and work together to spark change.

In June, Intel expanded benefits and health care coverage for transgendered employees and removed the lifetime maximum benefit for all gender reassignment procedures. The company also designated all-gender restrooms at certain U.S. sites and created gender pronoun stickers for employee badges.

Additionally, our IGLOBE (Intel Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allied employee resource group) actively drives awareness around issues affecting the LGBTQ community, in addition to providing a support network for its members. With a presence in 10 countries, IGLOBE creates allies and mentors for LGBTQ employees and educates people on the unique experiences of its members. In her blog, Crair credits her decision to join Intel as largely due to IGLOBE engendering community and belonging in her business group and the company at large.

Intel’s leaders believe diversity and inclusion are grounded in diversity of thought and the ability to bring various experiences to the table regardless of gender or background. It means employees feel free to bring their full selves to work, offer unguarded, authentic perspectives, and find a respectful place for those ideas. Without a range of perspectives in the technology industry, Intel and other companies would limit their ability to understand and design for their customers, and undermine their continued relevance and growth as an industry. At Intel, its leaders truly believe that more inclusion will lead to more growth, more innovation and better results.