The following message was shared from EA’s weekly communications update to all employees.

Everyone,

I’d like to dedicate this week’s note to Pride.  Over the last week, we’ve had conversations with many members of our LGBTQ+ community. Personal stories were shared, as well as unfiltered and real feedback for EA leadership. In my comments last week, I never intended to imply that we were stepping back from our long-standing support of LGBTQ+ rights, but I understand that’s how it landed for members of this community. I am grateful for the openness and courage to engage, and I am also hopeful that we can keep our conversations productive and healthy. They make us better.

I want to acknowledge the pain and fear that our LGBTQ+, specifically our Transgender community, is experiencing in light of emerging legislation in the US and the ongoing attacks on their human rights. We will continue to strive for a safe and supportive workplace, and as a leadership team, we want to be clear about what we stand for:

As a company, we are united that Trans Rights are Human Rights. Women’s Rights are Human Rights. Our support is unwavering for our people, our players, and our LGBTQ+ communities.

We will continue to focus and direct our collective energy in the areas of promoting equality through the stories and characters in our games, in creating a safe and inclusive workplace at EA, and in ensuring health care access if care isn’t available locally. We recognize that the landscape continuously evolves, and we will continue to assess how we support the needs of these communities. 

June is Pride Month in the United States, and at EA, it is a global celebration of our worldwide LGBTQ+ communities. Over the last two decades, EA has supported front-line organizations that share our values and can serve as a collective voice and coalition for action. We have teamed up with LGBTQ+ rights organizations in the last five years, including the ACLU, GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and Out and Equal. In March this year, we co-signed the HRC Business Statement to oppose discriminatory laws and policies introduced in Texas and elsewhere. In honor of Pride month, we will be donating and making a 2:1 match available in support of these organizations on the frontlines working to preserve human rights for this community. We will also be hosting a discussion with Kevin Jennings, CEO of Lambda Legal, to discuss the evolving legislative landscape and how we all can engage for positive change.

Our Pride ERG works vigorously to help ensure that the lived experiences and voices of our employees are seen, heard, and supported through initiatives like monthly TeaTalks and Pride Hangouts. Pride Month has its origins in standing up against injustice and has always represented a call for love and joy in the face of hate and bigotry. This year’s theme, chosen by our Pride Board, Authentically Proud: You Belong! reminds us to do just that. Please participate in our Pride Month 2022 programming to find all the ways we can learn, advocate, and celebrate together. I’ve had the honor and privilege of sponsoring our Pride ERG for more than five years, and my ask of you is that you stand up in allyship and support of our colleagues in this community.

We are grateful to be part of this journey together—with humility and compassion, together, we can make our company and the world around us better. By inspiring the world to play, we create the experiences that reflect the diversity around us and the inclusive society we hope to see today and in the future. 

Be well everyone,

-- Mala