Virgin Atlantic Tosses Gendered Uniform Policy — With a Little Help From Michelle Visage
Bring it to the runway... airport runway, that is!
RuPaul's Drag Race judge and super squirrel friend, Michelle Visage, is showing off her fashion for the friendly skies by helping Virgin Atlantic announce its new uniform gender policy.
Virgin Atlantic, which dubs itself “the most inclusive airline in the world,” has scrapped plans for gendered cabin crew uniforms, and now employees can "wear the clothing that expresses how they identify or present themselves."
According to a statement from the airline, its gender identity policy has been updated, effective immediately, "giving its crew, pilots, and ground team the option to choose which of the iconic uniforms, designed by Vivienne Westwood, best represents them – no matter their gender, gender identity, or gender expression."
In addition to new uniforms selections, there will be mandatory inclusivity training for all Virgin Atlantic employees, a rollout of optional pronoun badges for crew members and travelers, and ticket system updates "to allow for passport holders with gender-neutral gender markers to use their gender codes and titles."
In a new video, LGBTQ rights activist Tanya Compas, Britain's Next Top Model contestant Talulah-Eve, and non-binary performer and activist Tyreece Nye, all join Visage to show off their Virgin Atlantic ensembles on the airport runway.
"I feel fabulous, fierce, and ferocious, and I am ready to take flight," the Drag Race judge says in the announcement video.
“As the mother of a non-binary child, and as an ally to the LGBTQ+ community, these efforts by Virgin Atlantic to further inclusivity for its people are extremely important and personal to me,” Visage said in a statement. “People feel empowered when they are wearing what best represents them, and this gender identity policy allows people to embrace who they are and bring their full selves to work.”
Prepare for takeoff!