Welcome To Rainbow News
Hello,
It's February, and winters charms are starting to wear off and many of us now long for the excitement of warmer weather and a new season. Taking a vacation is the best cure for cabin fever or the winter blues, especially after the blizzards and snow storms that have affected much of the country.
This month we have another great edition. You can win a trip to visit Britain, learn about a new LGBT travel resource, introduce yourself to Jarrett Barrios, President of GLAAD, and find out about one charity event you won't mind being dragged to.
We thank you for your business, and I hope to see you somewhere around the world!
Safe travels my friends!
George
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Visit LGBT Britain
 The nightlife will keep you on the move while the history will enchant you — and let's not even get started on the shopping! We know that LGBT travelers come in every color of the rainbow. Some visit new places to taste exotic local cuisines, others go for the culture and spend hours exploring museums and galleries. And some seek out the unparalleled night scene in Britain, searching for the best place to dance and talk the night away.
Britain is full of contrasts and you will find a wide variety of landscapes and diverse cultures to explore. From the unforgettable LGBT scenes in London and Brighton to cultural and stylish Glasgow and Cardiff, Britain is a country of unique and popular cities each with their own customs, cultures and traditions. Whatever the motivation, come see for yourself why Britain is the top LGBT international destination. Please visit LGBT Britain for more information.
With so much to see and do and great money saving offers, there has never been a better time to visit LGBT Britain. Visit www.visitbritain.us to enter for your chance to win a trip to LGBT London, Brighton and Wales! The sweepstakes is brought to you by VisitBritain, Visit Brighton, Visit Wales, American Airlines and Red Carnation Hotels.
Follow us on Facebook and our blog for the latest on LGBT Britain.
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HRC's Best Places To Work 2010
The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, released their widely read annual list of "Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality." This year 305 companies were awarded this distinction for their employment policies and practices that include LGBT workers and their families. A complete list of the honored businesses is available online at www.hrc.org/placestowork.
We are very proud to be among the businesses recognized for supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers. American Airlines has continued to earn a 100% mark from the Corporate Equality Index since its launch. We are also very proud to be HRC's longest serving sponsor and official airline. To support the HRC mission the next time you fly, please use Business ExtrAA # 527567.
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SPOTLIGHT ON THE COMMUNITY
This spotlight focuses on our valued community partners every month – the nonprofit leaders that work every day to make all of our lives better.
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Q & A With Jarrett Barrios, President Of GLAAD
If you are not yet familiar with GLAAD — the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation - you should be. GLAAD's staff, board leaders and volunteers have been working for nearly a quarter-century to help shape a truthful and positive image of LGBT people in all forms of media and in society. Please visit www.glaad.org to learn more.
American Airlines has been a proud corporate partner with GLAAD for more than 15 years. Today, we caught up with Jarrett Barrios, President of GLAAD and an American Airlines AAdvantage Platinum® member.
You have traveled and flown so often during your first few months as President of GLAAD, we wonder if you have a favorite Admirals Club® or airport?
Without a doubt, the Los Angeles (LAX) Admirals Club rocks, even more than Dallas. That's where I often find myself before taking the next "red eye" flight back to the East Coast. The cookies and milk really get you in the mood.
As a husband and father of two sons, you can also bet that landing at Logan Airport always fills me with a happy family reunion in Boston.
Aisle or window?
Definitely aisle. The perfect place for type A workaholics.
What is the most important thing people don't know that GLAAD does for the LGBT Community?
Perhaps the two most important things GLAAD does, that some may not know, are our "message" research as well as our message training.
To start, we study all the ways people talk everyday about LGBT issues, and which messages are the most resonant and compelling to others. We then train individuals and groups to use the language and messages that help us persuade and favorably influence Americans. We do this for campaigns, but also for corporations and their employee resource groups to help people talk about LGBT issues more easily and respectfully in the workplace.
How can anyone get more involved with GLAAD's work?
To get more involved, it can be as simple as going to our web site www.glaad.org/waystogive and signing up for an Action Alert. Many supporters and friends know about GLAAD's effectiveness at curbing homophobic language on television, and persuading hurtful entertainers to stop attacking us with homophobic rant. The true effectiveness of GLAAD comes from our broad-based members, including friends who read the Rainbow News and are willing to send an email, to speak up or to make a call once a month to help advance our equality.
Why is it important for corporations to align with GLAAD? How do they play a role in an inclusive and respectful culture for all LGBT people?
Corporations, like American Airlines, work closely with GLAAD in many ways. Of course they support our national Media Awards that recognize excellence in stories and images of gay people in the media. Increasingly, through our onsite trainings, we work with corporations to help them develop their own messages on LGBT issues as a way to help their employees, especially their LGBT staff, to feel more comfortable and included in the workplace. These are newer roles for GLAAD and a way to build new partnerships that hold great promise for the entire LGBT community and the workplaces they share around the country.
As Jarrett knows, American is very proud to be a corporate partner of the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards, which recognizes and honors media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.
Media Awards events are talking place in three great cities across the country:
March 13, 2010 — New York City, NY (LGA, JFK or EWR)
April 17, 2010 — Los Angeles, CA (LAX or BUR)
June 5, 2010 — San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Planning to attend one of the events? We can help! Please visit us at aa.com/rainbow when you're ready to book travel. Use Business ExtrAA # 527563 to support GLADD when you book your travel.
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Night Of A Thousands Gowns
If you've been captivated by the artistry and glamour of the contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race broadcast by LOGO, you'll want to check out this event. Once a year the New York LGBT community comes together for a unique gala fund raiser — one that rises above all others for over-the-top fun. That event is The Imperial Court of New York's Night of a Thousand Gowns, a black tie dinner dance and coronation ball.
This year's event, now into its twenty-fourth outing, will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and God's Love We Deliver. While drag is the theme, guests may enjoy expressing any gender at this formal affair.
Michael Fienstein, Joan Rivers, Leslie Jordan and Robin Strasser will be on hand as Honorary Chairs. Look out for more to be added. There will also be performances by "Broadway Bares", Crystal Waters, Kristine W., Kelly King, Coco Peru, Jesse Volt and DJ Sherry Vine. The prestigious "Imperial Diamond" Award will be presented to Lt. Dan Choi.
This celebration not to be missed! For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.icny.org/tickets/2010.htm.
American Airlines is proud to be the official airline of the event. Please visit us at aa.com/rainbow when you're ready to book travel and be sure to use Promotion Code 5830AE to get a discount on your travel.
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Feb. 2010 | vol. 33
TOP STORIES:
Visit LGBT Britain
HRC's Best Places
To Work 2010
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS
Q & A With Jarrett Barrios, President Of GLAAD
Night Of A Thousands Gowns
Stay Connected With
The
AA Rainbow Team
If you would like to opt-in to receive the AA Rainbow News via email along with periodic LGBT travel updates and promotions please email your request to rainbow.team@aa.com.
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Business ExtrAA®: Making Philanthropy Effortless
When booking travel arrangements, consider making a difference with a few simple clicks. Philanthropy is effortless when you enter the participating organization's Business ExtrAA number on the booking page. LGBT community organizations can earn valuable points while you still earn your AAdvantage® miles for travel. Talk about a win-win!
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