F5 Joins Stonewall Global Diversity Champions Programme

F5 has joined the Stonewall Global Diversity Champions Programme to further enhance LGBT+ inclusivity in the workplace.

Stonewall is Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, working to create a world where every single person can be accepted without exception.

“We are delighted that F5 has joined the Stonewall Global Diversity Programme,” said Garth Heron, Private Sector Account Lead at Stonewall.

“Same-sex relationships are still criminalised in more than 70 countries. Most governments deny trans people the right to legally change their gender from those assigned to them at birth. The hostility towards LGBT+ people—and their lack of protection from it—means that other institutions often need to fill the gap. This places a significant responsibility on employers who want to uphold inclusive values globally. The best employers understand the need to take inclusivity seriously. They understand that staff should be able to bring their whole self to work. They understand inclusion drives better individual, business and organisational outcomes.”

Focusing on working with international organisations based in the UK, the Stonewall Global Diversity Champions Programme, which encompasses over 850 members, is the leading initiative of its kind. It involves Stonewall working closely with members to understand specific needs and provide tailored and strategic guidance to drive positive change. It also includes access to range of tools and networks to ensure continual improvement, legal compliance, and programme relevance over time. To date, the programme has helped to create inclusive and accepting environments for almost a quarter of the UK workforce.

“F5’s guiding principle is to do the right thing—for each other, our customers, shareholders, community, and the world,” said Scott De Buitléir, F5 Pride’s Chapter Chair for the UK & Ireland.

“Joining Stonewall’s Global Diversity Champions Programme is an important part of our ongoing commitment to embody those values. Being able to safely be yourself, wherever you are in the world, has never been more important. F5 is proud of our partnership with Stonewall, which will constantly improve our ability to be the most supportive and inclusive organisation possible. While we are running this programme from the UK, we fully expect to share learnings and best practices across F5.”

F5’s membership of the programme was led by the UK and Ireland branch of the F5 Pride Employee Inclusion group.

F5’s EIG groups (F5’s version of employee resource groups) are specifically designed to make a difference in the workplace, playing a pivotal role in supporting both internal and external communities. Each group has full executive and company backing.

To learn more about diversity and inclusion at F5, visit www.f5.com/company/diversity-inclusion

To explore careers at F5, visit www.f5.com/company/careers

About Stonewall

Stonewall is Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, working to create a world where every single person can be accepted without exception. 

It was founded in 1989 by a small group of people who wanted to break down barriers to equality. Stonewall continues to campaign and lobby government to change laws to ensure everyone, everywhere, is free to be themselves.

Stonewall works in partnership with a growing network of more than 800 organisations to help create real change for the better.  It campaigns to eliminate homophobia, biphobia and transphobia in communities, and empowers LGBT people and their allies to be role models wherever they live, work, shop, socialise or pray.

To get involved, visit www.stonewall.org.uk

Registered charity number: 1101255

About F5

F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) is a multi-cloud application security and delivery company that enables our customers—which include the world’s largest enterprises, financial institutions, service providers, and governments—to bring extraordinary digital experiences to life. For more information, go to f5.com. You can also follow @F5 on Twitter or visit us on LinkedIn and Facebook for more information about F5, its partners, and technologies.

F5 is a trademark, service mark, or tradename of F5 Networks, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

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