Delta Goes First Class for Pride 2015

Delta Air Lines, a long-time supporter of the LGBT community, celebrates Pride Month this June as an official airline sponsor of seven Pride festivals across North America.

For several years Delta has teamed up annually with some of the largest regional Pride events around the world. Its 2015 partnerships include the Utah Pride Festival in Salt Lake City, Gold Corporate Sponsor; Motor City Pride in Detroit, Gold Sponsor; LA Pride, Official Airline; NYC Heritage of PRIDE, Official Airline; Seattle PrideFest, Presenting Sponsor and Exclusive Airline; Twin Cities Pride in Minneapolis, Official Gold Sponsor and Exclusive Airline; and The 519's Green Space Festival at Toronto Pride, Official Partner.

Delta is the Official Airline of Atlanta Pride, the presenting sponsor of the GLAAD Media Awards and a Platinum Sponsor of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. Additionally, Delta also supports LGBT efforts as a sponsor of GNETWORK 360 in Argentina, the Brazilian Association for Gay Tourism and the Attitude Pride Awards in London.

"Delta has been a big presence at Pride events for several years. It's one of the many ways we support the communities where we live and work, as well as our Delta employees," said Tad Hutcheson, Vice President -Community Affairs. "We believe that a huge part of our success is our culture of inclusion - it's a core value for Delta. Our diverse people, thinking and styles strengthen and define us."

Representatives of Delta's Employee Equality Network (DEEN) in each city as well as friends, family and volunteers will don Delta gear to march in the parades.

As part of this year's celebration, Delta is offering a special First Class fare sale on flights from many domestic airports to festival destinations in the U.S. Customers will enjoy these deals for two days prior through two days after event weekends. First Class amenities include added legroom, complimentary beer, wine and spirits and complimentary Delta Studio entertainment.

With 80,000 employees worldwide, Delta has long been committed to maintaining and supporting a culture of inclusion. In 2010 and 2011, the company was designated as one of the Human Rights Campaign's "Best Places To Work" for LGBT employees, and it continues to earn near-perfect scores on HRC's Corporate Equality Index.

Delta employees in same-sex relationships have enjoyed health, dental, life insurance, pension and flight benefits for domestic partners for many years. The airline updated its policy in 2015 to relieve employees of any federal or state income or payroll tax burden associated with their coverage. The change resulted in parity in health care coverage costs between same-sex domestic partners and employees in legally recognized marriages, regardless of U.S. location.

Delta also advocates for permanent removal of the barriers that separate same-sex couples from some of the legal benefits enjoyed by their legally married peers. Recently, Delta joined in support of an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to support marriage equality in every state. Delta has joined in similar legal efforts in the federal appellate courts as well.