“The women’s suffrage movement was successful because women and men who supported fairness stood shoulder-to-shoulder. The fight against Jewish defamation was successful because people of all faiths took stands against discrimination. The AfricanAmerican civil rights struggle was supported by people of all races and ethnicities.”
This is the mission statement that Ella Kuperminc wrote for the Alcoa EAGLE (Employees at Alcoa for Gay, Lesbian Equality) group. And twenty-two years later, Ella and her son David continue to believe that true equality for all is on the horizon.
“I brought my son to this country when he was 3 years old. It was a life-saving decision. We came as political refugees escaping antiSemitism, injustice and inequality. We came in search of freedom. Our search is not over.”
Their search is not over, she said, until her son David can marry freely in this country. When her son came out to her, she was relieved that he no longer felt that he had to hide himself from her and the rest of the world. And he’s the reason she has become such a fierce advocate for equality.
At Alcoa, EAGLE works to foster an engaged network of LGBT and straight employees – aptly named EAGLE Allies – who collaborate and advocate regularly in support of workplace equality within Alcoa and throughout the broader community. To date, EAGLE has 120+ active members, representing 17 states and nine countries, with 80 percent of members being nonLGBT employees. Ella, who is in charge of corporate communications, was the first straight ally to join EAGLE.
But being an ally and fighting for gay rights is obviously not just a civil rights issue, it’s also a family issue. “When a company is selling a product, the public doesn’t want to hear that is a great product from the company itself. But if you hear by word of mouth about a product, whether it’s from a neighbor or a friend, it builds instant credibility. In this instance, the product we’re selling is gay rights, and I am the neighbor that will spread the good word about gay rights and I am the neighbor giving the movement a leg up.” Ella said that she will continue to fight until her son has the same rights that every American does, because as a parent, it’s her job.
Thank you Ella, for your tireless efforts. Without you and the support of our straight allies, we will never be able to win this fight!
FACTS ABOUT ALCOA EAGLE
- The Pittsburgh EAGLE group was established in 2007. There are currently active EAGLE groups in 17 states and 9 countries.
- 80% of EAGLE members are straight allies.
- Alcoa has scored 100% on the HRC Corporate Equality Index for 3 years in a row.
- They have been a two time finalist for the Out & Equal “Outie” award.
- EAGLE has advocated in support of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would provide federal protections against workplace discrimination.
- Company CEO Klaus Kleinfeld signed an open letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo in support of marriage equality within the state of New York.
- Alcoa has been a major sponsor of Pittsburgh Pride for the past three years. Be sure to look for them at the Pride March and at PrideFest
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