To celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, Honda companies will be participating in various activities throughout the month. Several companies will be raising the rainbow flag at facilities across the U.S. this week, including Honda of America Mfg. and Honda R&D Americas, along with the American Honda Campus in Torrance and Honda Manufacturing of Indiana (HMIN). The flag will be on display at the facilities for one week.

In recent years, Honda has supported a number of PRIDE activities in local communities during the month of June, which aligns to its foundational philosophy of Respect for the Individual.

Honda currently has seven LGBTQ+ Business Resource Groups (BRGs), throughout North America. These PRISM groups are comprised of 524 associates.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the postponement of most of the PRIDE parades that typically take place in June. The rainbow flag, however, which traces its roots to the 1969 Stonewall Riots protest in New York City, remains as an important symbol of the movement.

PRISM BRG leaders reflected on the current racial injustice protests and the parallels with the gay rights movement in a letter to its members this month.

“We can’t cannot talk about LGBTQ+ rights without talking about intersectionality, including that of the Black experience,” PRISM leaders wrote.

HRA-O PRISM leader Cat Kennedy shared their view that this moment in history calls for empathy toward all who are fighting for equal rights.  

“Empathy and action should always be at the forefront of our minds. Especially now. We must always remember the importance of intersectionality when it comes to civil rights. It is our duty to support the Black community with issues of inequality. We are all in this together,” Kennedy said.

Many of the LGBTQ+ groups are holding out hope that COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted later in the year, thus allowing events to take place. The Stonewall Columbus PRIDE parade and festival is scheduled for Oct. 3, 2020, and the Indy PRIDE parade and festival is postponed until Aug. 29, 2020.

Other events Honda is participating in to mark PRIDE month this year include:

• Ohio LGBTQ+ Unity Summit on June 11;
• “Share Your Rainbow” campaign at HRA-O, encouraging associates to share their support for the LGBTQ+ community;
• Indy Pride Virtual Celebration on June 20; and
• AHM Social media campaign launching on June 27. Follow Honda at @Honda to share content from your personal handle.

Follow or tag @HondaInclusion and @Honda to share in and amplify the conversations about PRIDE this month.