More than 200 Honda associates joined together to celebrate LGBTQ+ pride and inclusion by representing Honda at the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade on June 17 in downtown Columbus.

The Ohio-based associates were one of three Honda groups participating in LGBTQ Pride parades this June. Associates from Honda Manufacturing of Indiana walked in the Indianapolis event and associates from Honda Manufacturing of Alabama walked in the parade in Birmingham, Ala.

In Columbus, Honda served as a platinum-level corporate sponsor and partnered again with the Kaleidoscope Youth Center.  The youth center provides LGBTQ youth with counseling, education and community engagement.

“It was a fantastic day and we were very pleased with the turnout,” said Yvette Hunsicker, manager of the Office of Inclusion and Diversity at HNA. “Our participation in the Pride Parade not only serves as an opportunity to support our associates and demonstrate our commitment to equality.  It is also consistent with our company philosophy of Respect for the Individual and a key to Honda’s future success.”

Honda featured the all-new 2017 Honda CR-V, the 2017 Honda Ridgeline and the 2017 Acura NSX in the parade, along with a banner showing Honda’s support for the Kaleidoscope Youth Center.

The Columbus parade was attended by 500,000, making it the second largest pride parade in the Midwest.

“Honda’s commitment to Columbus Pride, LGBTQ charitable organizations and inclusion and diversity efforts have taken ‘Respect for the Individual’ to another level,” said Jonathan Zolinas, a Marysville Auto Plant product engineer. “As an LGBTQ associate, these engagements at Honda have become my ‘icing on the cake’ of a career that I have loved for over 10 years.”