Important progress on the path toward LGBTQ+ Equality

Adobe General Counsel Dana Rao outlines actions underway at Adobe; applauds recent actions taken by the Biden administration to further LGBTQ+ equality.

At Adobe, when we say Adobe For All, we mean it. Not only do we believe in the power of inclusion to foster a more creative, innovative, and successful workplace, but it is part of the very core of who we are as a company. We believe that everyone deserves equal treatment and respect, both here at Adobe and in their communities around the world.

In June 2020, we celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that ruled that gay and transgender employees are covered by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination “because of sex.” This was an important victory, but just a step in a longer path toward equality. We are pleased to see another step taken in that journey, with President Biden’s signing of an executive order making it clear that gay and transgender people are protected against discrimination in schools, healthcare, the workplace and other parts of American life. While these types of basic anti-discrimination proclamations should not even be necessary at this point in history, we know that they are and congratulate the Biden administration for the executive order.

We also applaud the Biden administration for nominating Rachel Levine as Assistant U.S. Secretary of Health, who would be the first openly transgender official if confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Levine’s confirmation would pave the way for more equality and inclusion in leadership roles and in the American healthcare system.

As we celebrate these new milestones, we are continuing to support our LGBTQ+ community here at Adobe. We were once again recognized as a “Best Place to Work” for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) with a score of 100 on its 2021 Corporate Equality Index. The index measures policies, practices, and benefits for LGBTQ+ employees and our consistent recognition highlights Adobe’s continued commitment to equality.

We are proud to be a workplace with a thriving global network of LGBTQ+ employees and allies, which I am reminded of not only during Adobe’s inspiring celebrations during Pride month, but all year long through employee panel discussions, guest speaker engagements, non-profit support for LGBTQ+ charities and advocacy groups, and more.

We support our LGBTQ+ employees with progressive family planning and personal support benefits including same-sex dependent partner healthcare coverage, adoption and surrogacy assistance, non-birth parent leave up to 16 weeks, and gender reassignment benefits.

In celebration of Coming Out Day in October 2020, we added new fields to our HR records system so that employees can share their preferred gender pronouns, gender identity, and sexual orientation if they are comfortable.

We will continue to seek out ways in which we can make our own workplace more inclusive and advocate for public policy outcomes to protect the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination.

It is actions like these, both big and small, that can help make employees feel respected and included and create not only an Adobe For All, but a society for all as well.