In Brief

GM World Hdqtrs., Detroit Michigan June, 2012

Staff Reports

Pride Flag Over GM Plant In Indiana Causes Conflict

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA -- General Motors Fort Wayne Truck Assembly Plant Gay employees and their supporters celebrated Pride 2012 with a Pride flag flying proudly above the plant courtesy of its general manager. The plant raised the flag last Sunday in honor of gay pride month.

Not everyone however, was pleased by the company's show of equality support for its LGBTQ employees.

In a column published in the local newspaper, The News Sentinel, columnist Kevin Leininger criticised the GM plant manager's decision in a column headlined; “Is GM ‘Gay Motors’ now?”

“Whether that represents a gesture of tolerance and respect or a slap in the face to traditionally minded employees is a matter of considerable debate,” he wrote.

A few of the plant's other employees also complained which got the attention of the United Auto Workers union, which represents the factory's workers.

“The UAW opposes all discrimination and believes there is a definite connection between civil, human and workers’ rights,” the union said in a statement supporting the display of the flag.

Company spokeswoman Stephanie Jentgen said the GM plant is keeping the flag up until Saturday evening, when it will come down on schedule. She added that the pride flag went up as part of a plan by the factory to fly flags representing different company groups for a week each.

“GM is a really diverse company and we’ve always been supportive of all our employees,” Jentgen said. She notes that the plant has received supportive feedback as well as criticism. “We have this stereotype of being backwards here. But the dialog has been very constructive. It’s been very heartening, even talking to the folks who don’t agree.”

GM has been reaching out to the LGBTQ community during Pride month in several notable shows of its support. Earlier this month it transformed the LED-display atop its Detroit headquarters into a rainbow in honor of the city’s annual gay pride celebration.

The company in an advert campaign featured a gay-friendly themed ad for its Chevy Volt battery powered car. In the ad, the car "comes out" to its more traditional parents. “So, whatever revs your engine, we support you 100%” said the ad.