KPN continues Pride Verified as part of #BeterInternet: Queer is not a trend
KPN launches an online campaign during Pride to emphasize that being queer is not a fad . In a time when queer visibility is growing online, the voices that being queer is a trend are increasingly heard . Online hatred against the LGBTQIA+ community also continues to grow. To contribute to a #BetterInternet, KPN shares a series of personal stories from older LGBTQIA+ people. They are living proof that being yourself is not a trend.
“These people fought for their visibility and rights before the internet era and now see how that fight continues online. By sharing their stories online, we show that being yourself is not a fad,” says Hilde Garssen, Chief People Officer and member of the Executive Board of KPN. “As an employer but also as a company at the heart of society, we stand for a Better Internet where the LGBTQIA+ community feels safe and comfortable.”
Marjet Bos (73 years old) is one of the participants in the campaign. Marjet has been committed to the LGBTQIA+ community for years. In her video, she emphasizes the importance of visibility and representation. She emphasizes that being queer is a lifelong reality: "We have always been here and we will always be here." In addition to Marjet, Gerard Robben (73 years old) and Flip Strik (75 years old) are also portrayed. They all grew up without examples. Without words for what they felt. And without the internet, a place that could have opened up a world full of recognition, knowledge and connection.
KPN sails on all Pride boats
In addition to the campaign, the boats during the Canal Parade will again be equipped with smart sensors from KPN this year. These IoT sensors ensure that the boats remain at the correct distance from each other and can be accurately located at any time. In this way, KPN contributes to the safety of the largest boat parade in the Netherlands. KPN has also supported the Canal Parade with technology in recent years as an official technology partner. In 2015, KPN won a prize for a completely empty boat with a 360° camera. This allowed people all over the world, including in countries where LGBTQIA+ is prohibited, to follow Pride live.
KPN Pride
As an employer, KPN has an active policy in the area of diversity and inclusion and strives for a safe and free environment for all employees. The KPN Pride network specifically promotes the interests of LGBTQIA+ employees. For example, the employment conditions stipulate that maternity leave also applies to rainbow families and that employees in gender transition are given leave. Partly because of this, KPN won the Winq Workplace Award, intended for companies that actively work towards a safe working environment for everyone. Based on its social involvement, KPN also supports the LGBTQIA+ community outside the company. For example, KPN supported a chair at Leiden University as the main sponsor for five years in order to contribute to scientific insights into inclusion in the workplace.