The Manhattan Kid

By Sandy Gould, Head of Culture, Coaching and Communicating

We have long expressed our commitment to LGBTQ diversity and inclusion in our workforces and global offices. Working at Yahoo means you get equal benefits regardless of your gender identity or sexual orientation. It means you can come to work every day and know that you are accepted and celebrated for who you are.

I recently sat down with Amy Jie, to discuss her experience working at Yahoo. Watch our interview to hear more of her personal, compelling and strengthening story.

By Margenett Moore-Roberts, Global Head of Inclusive Diversity

Last week, Yahoo and Tumblr came out against a joint decision from the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education to rescind critical legal guidance protecting transgender students in educational settings. Previous guidance required schools to allow transgender students to use sex-segregated facilities, like bathrooms and locker rooms, based on gender identity rather than biological sex.

Yahoo and Tumblr today join a number of other companies on an amicus brief in G.G. v. Gloucester County School Board, a case alleging that forbidding a male transgender student from using the boy’s restroom at his school constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex and therefore violates Title IX of the Education Act of 1972, which bars sex discrimination in education.

This case isn’t only about bathroom access; it is about equal rights. Having built inclusive workplaces for transgender employees and their loved ones, we have a vested interest in the legal landscape in which our employees and their dependents live, work and go to school.

Yahoo and Tumblr have long expressed commitment to LGBTQ diversity and inclusion in our workforces and invest in the practice of inclusive diversity to ensure we are supporting and incorporating the broadest set of perspectives throughout our corporate community. We realize being inclusive is not only the right thing to do – it makes good business sense as well. We believe the perspective of the LGBTQ community enriches and strengthens our collective corporate perspective. We value these contributions and will continue to speak out against actions that jeopardize equal rights for the LGBTQ, and other underrepresented, communities.

By David Filo, Co-Founder & Chief Yahoo

Happy 22nd birthday, Yahoo!

I’m filled with so much pride as I reflect back on 22 years of Yahoo. When we first started the company, Jerry and I could never have imagined that one day Yahoo would serve more than a billion users. From our humble beginnings on the campus of Stanford, to “Jerry & David’s Guide to the Worldwide Web,” to “Do you Yahoo?”, to our next chapter with Verizon, we’ve walked an incredible path. Every day I am excited to walk through these doors and work with such an incredibly talented team.

As we look to a new future, I recognize all that we’ve accomplished as a company and want to thank each and every one of our users and our Yahoos worldwide for your continued dedication and passion.

Yahooooooo!!!!

Another Yahoo birthday is upon us, another milestone and another moment to look back and reflect on how far we’ve come – 22 years of growth, innovation, products and more. In true Yahoo fashion, our offices across the globe took a moment to celebrate today.

In Sunnyvale, we rolled in our favorite Bay Area food trucks to mark this momentous day. We had a little taste of everything – from chicken wings to burritos, poke bowls, Indian, Mediterranean or grilled cheese – there was something for everyone.

Music blasted across our campus during the lunch hour as Yahoo’s came out to enjoy food, play games and socialize. And there was no shortage of desserts… with 22 toppings for our favorite ice cream flavors.

For many people in the LGBT community, whether living “in the closet” or “out,” discussing your personal life can be an intimidating experience – like responding to situations where a co-worker or client asks about your wife and you have to explain that your wedding ring is actually from your husband. However, working at Yahoo and watching leaders like Sandy Gould speak and casually, with pride, reference his husband sends a subtle yet powerful message of acceptance and encouragement for others to live authentically as well. Additionally, seeing hundreds of your co-workers (gay and straight) march in Pride parades across the country amplifies this message. These symbols, as well as corporate policies of equality and the existence of the Yahoo Pride Employee Resource Group (ERG) give confidence and support to those in the LGBT community and those still struggling with their sexuality.

Yahoo Pride is like a giant welcome mat for current and potential employees. Knowing that the Pride ERG existed and that Yahoo consistently scored highly on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index definitely influenced my decision to work here. I got involved in the Pride ERG shortly after I started working in our Burbank office back in 2011. I was invited to a holiday party that the ERG was hosting for our Southern California offices, and it was a great way for me as a new employee on a small team to meet employees from a wide variety of teams and form a community of friends here at Yahoo.

In 2012, I championed a Yahoo Employee Foundation (YEF) Grant for Covenant House California, a non-profit agency whose mission is to offer hope and opportunities to at-risk homeless youth, and secured $40,000 to support and grow their programs. For many years now, I’ve volunteered with Covenant House and have been inspired by the stories of those they serve. Of the 15,000 homeless youth (ages 18-21) in Los Angeles County, a disproportionately high number are youth driven away from their homes because they are LGBT.  Additionally, of the 1,500 youth who emancipate from the foster care system in Los Angeles and Alameda Counties each year, nearly 50% will be homeless within six months.  Saddened, horrified and inspired by the stories from the youth at Covenant House, when my fiancé and I decided to start a family, we chose to open our home to children from the foster care system. We are currently fostering two children and the adoption of our youngest should be finalized this summer.

June is officially LGBTQ Pride Month, and we’re kicking it off with a series of profiles featuring members of Yahoo Pride, one of our employee resource groups (ERGs). Our first story comes from Chris Kolk, Chair of Yahoo Pride. Stay tuned for more stories about how we support our employees and how they’re celebrating diversity throughout the month!

This week marks the beginning of “Pride Month.” Cities across the country will be hosting parades, parties, workshops and more to commemorate a pivotal mark in the LGBTQ movement that was put into motion June 1969 at the Stonewall Inn in New York. Now in 2016, we have a second reason to celebrate, the anniversary of the Supreme Court case of Obergefell v. Hodges, ruling the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples. This month serves in recognition of the history of the LGBTQ community and focuses on taking steps towards equality and celebrating diversity, and Yahoo continues to make the voice of it’s social consciousness in support of the LGBTQ community heard. I am so proud to work for a company who for the past nine years has achieved 100% on the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index and in 2014, took home the Trevor Project’s 20/20 Visionary award.

One year ago, I stood with my fellow Yahoos and took part in the celebration as an individual trying to contribute to the greater good of Yahoo and the LGBTQ culture.  Since last year, I have stepped in to chair the Pride Employee Resource Group. I knew that by choosing to accept this leadership role I would be  taking on additional responsibilities, but what I didn’t consider was how it would strengthen my connection to the company and increase personal viewability across multifaceted job functions within all levels of Yahoo.

Leading our Pride group has deepened my understanding in the importance of  these organizations. Being a part of Pride or, any Employee Resource Group for that matter, isn’t like joining a club. It’s embracing the collective voice of Yahoo employees, LGBTQ users and the greater community. It’s a way for underrepresented individuals to ensure that the needs of the community we are a part of are echoed in all aspects of our business, including the products we release.

In a perfect world, each individual would feel comfortable bringing their truest self to work and everyone would be equally represented and treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Yahoo is consistently taking steps to achieve this, helping to make our world the place it should be.

What’s your personal connection with the LGBTQ community?

By Anna Robertson, VP/Head of Yahoo Video

Fascinating people and inspiring moments define a generation. The way these stories are told impact not only how current issues are brought to our attention, but how they are ultimately overcome.