The Power of Leading Queer Change, Together

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) celebrate the growth of their ERG network PRIDE, launched in 2020. One of the key aspects of this employee resource group is promoting vocal allyship to widen support for the LGBTQ+ community and amplify marginalized voices. They discuss their commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Ever since our 2020 launch of PRIDE, JTI’s LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Employee Resource Group (ERG), we grew into an ever-expanding global network of 10 local chapters across the Americas, Western Europe and Asia Pacific region, with initiatives aimed at community members and allies alike, focusing on peer-to-peer support, awareness building, business accountability and allyship.

Through our 365 Days of PRIDE pledge – our everyday commitment to LGBTIQ+ Inclusion, we aim to create safe and inclusive spaces for the LGBTIQ+ community and allies, all year-round.

Allyship is a powerful conduit through which colleagues can amplify their voices and help create a ripple effect that widens the network of support for the LGBTIQ+ community and for marginalized communities at large.

One of JTI’s key advocates for Allyship is Frederic Estripeau, our PROUDLY Initiative Lead, PRIDE’s Allyship program. He believes “there is an ally within us all. Sometimes a very active ally, sometimes a dormant ally”. Therefore, in early 2021 we felt the need to formalize allyship within JTI and we called the program PROUDLY, a word that is rooted in our PRIDE and an adverb that through its very essence calls for action. With PROUDLY we aspire to wake up and unleash all the dormant allies out there.

It is this call for action, which is fundamental to create lasting change, because to affect real change as an ally means going beyond mere passive support; it entails taking meaningful actions to challenge prejudices, discrimination, and systemic inequalities. Active allyship plays a pivotal role in establishing and nurturing such environments at JTI. By openly opposing derogatory language, discriminatory behaviors, and microaggressions, PROUDLY allies, straight and queer alike contribute to cultivating an atmosphere of acceptance, respect, and understanding.

John Fraser, our PRIDE Executive Committee sponsor, perfectly summarizes it - “I’m a proud ally of the community and as an ally I strive to listen, to learn and to stand up for the rights of others. To witness real change, we must all awaken our inner ally to continue supporting our LGBTIQ+ community colleagues and use our power to stand up and speak up because the invaluable support of allies helps create a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for all.”

Hence, to all those dormant allies out there who seem unsure of where to start or what to do, Frederic has some final wisdom to share “Find your inner drive, your motivation, but remember this: you do not need to justify yourself. You need no permission to become an ally, only passion and compassion.”