2SLGBTQIA+ @ FCTG: Hear Their Stories
The best way to learn about 2SLGBTQIA+ people is to listen to their stories; so for the rest of this blog, we’re going to hand the mic over to the phenomenal 2SLGBTQIA+ employees across Flight Centre Travel Group brands. We hope by sharing these stories that we can give hope and support to 2SLGBTQIA+ people around the world.
Name: Danielle Mangone
Pronouns: She/Her
Title: Senior Onboarding Success Manager
Company: Corporate Traveler USA
I am fortunate to work with my wife Aubrey at Flight Centre and am able to be who I am within our company and when travelling for work and leisure. However, in a world where uncertainty looms at every law passed and a line is drawn in the sand from opposing parties, travelling with pride can look a bit different these days for many people. Some are not as fortunate to be who they truly are where they live, and it has caused me to rethink visiting certain states or countries. It means showing up in communities I am comfortable visiting as a leading example of what it means to be Queer and live my life in the way that works for me and my family.
I hope some kid or teenager (or even adult) might see my wife and me on vacation together that have not come out to their friends and family or even perhaps themselves and realize that it is possible to be who you are wherever you go. It also means helping others feel accepted right in their backyard and supporting the communities I encounter. I enjoy frequenting local restaurants/bars and shops that are owned by our and other minority communities to help reinvest my money spent travelling in things that are important to me. I also hope that some people who are on the fence about the community might meet us and have a conversation (I am very outgoing and speak to people wherever I go) and realize that being 2SLGBTQIA+ is not anything to be fearful of. It can help humanize our community in locations that are not as open and accepting.
Name: Angelica Menchero
Pronouns: She/Her
Title: Director of account management
Company: FCM Mexico
Travelling with PRIDE is travelling free, confident, and safe, with no fear that something bad will happen, no matter who we are. I’m married to a beautiful Venezuelan woman and together, we have discovered a lot of amazing countries where we have witnessed the openness towards our community. In Mexico City, although the traditional Catholic influence and “macho” culture are still present in our society, in 2015, the Supreme Court of Mexico essentially legalized gay marriage. Since that year, things have been changing positively.
Talking about other countries, we had an “unforgettable” experience, for unfortunate reasons, in Israel in 2018. Despite Israel being without a doubt the best country in the Middle East for 2SLGBTQIA+ people to live, we felt threatened when suddenly a man intimidatingly approached us, grabbed my wife by the arm, and invited her to his house. We had to tell him that our “husbands” were waiting for us further down the road. Fortunately, that was enough to make the man disappear, but it was very uncomfortable.
Improved understanding and more inclusive services have helped to give us more confidence when travelling, but there’s still a long way to go. Therefore, it is important to promote visibility and movements of inclusion and diversity so that no 2SLGBTQIA+ person feels unsafe outside of home ever again.
Name: Myles Jeffries-Phan
Pronouns: He/Him
Title: Team Leader, Optimizations Americas
Company: Corporate Traveler USA
I love the idea of travelling with pride. I think it’s extremely important, and I love that it can mean something different for everyone. For me, travelling with pride means always being able to be myself wherever I go. Whenever my husband and I travel anywhere, we always try to be authentically ourselves. We love sharing experiences together as a couple and don’t want to have to hide who we are while we travel.
While I know some places have a long way to go, we are extremely grateful for the progress the 2SLGBTQIA+ community has made. Everywhere we have been has made us feel accepted and loved. I hope that more and more countries and cultures continue to educate themselves on the 2SLGBTQIA+ cause and the acceptance we have felt continues to grow and grow. I appreciate the love and acceptance I have felt here at Flight Centre and the company’s continuous efforts to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Name: Jose Velazquez
Pronouns: He/Him
Title: Corporate Travel Operations
Company: FCM USA
Travelling with PRIDE is exploring and understanding cultures while remaining true to myself. I decided to go on a solo trip to Europe last summer, and even though I had many reasons to be fearful, I was excited to see what the world had to offer. I thought about acting, speaking, and presenting myself to “fit in.” That all disappeared once I realized how everyone was super accepting. The fear quickly went away as I explored each city. I felt super comfortable, and it made me realize that the world is slowly progressing. Hopefully, no matter what a person identifies as, we will all be treated equally and respectfully.
Name: Daniel Baker
Pronouns: He/Him
Title: Customer Success Consultant/ 2SLGBTQIA+ ERG Coordinator
Company: Corporate Traveler USA
I am so excited to work at a company promoting travelling within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It speaks volumes to know that your professional job cares not only about your community but also about those outside our doors. I love the idea of travelling with pride. It is so important that anyone from any community can travel and see the world. The idea of travelling with pride means that I can be myself and enjoy the new communities that I travel to. I always want to be myself wherever I go, and knowing I can be accepted means so much to us in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Travelling is the best thing anyone can do to immerse themselves in the culture, food, and people. Living your authentic self in those communities and travelling with your authentic self is the best feeling. I hope that more countries and cultures continue to educate themselves on becoming more inclusive of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community so that more acceptance continues to grow.
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