These are the remarks from the October 1999 GLBT History and Culture Display in the Product Development Center (PDC) Atrium Lobby sponsored by the Truck Vehicle Center (TVC) Diversity Council. Cindy Clardy introduced Joy Geng.
Good afternoon. My name is Cindy Clardy. I work here in PDC as a member of the TVC Finance team in Cost Optimization. I also serve on the Finance Diversity Council and I am a founding member of Ford Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual Employees, one of seven company-sanctioned employee resource groups at Ford. On behalf of Ford GLOBE and the Truck Vehicle Center Diversity Council, I welcome you to PDC's grand opening of the Gay History and Culture display. The purpose of the display is to educate Ford employees about what it means to be a citizen or an employee who happens to be gay and through this education to begin to dispel some of the myths and stereotypes about gay people. I became a proud grandmother for the first time this summer. I've been thrilled to be able to add a picture of myself with my daughter and newly born grandson to this display, helping to show that gays and lesbians have children and warm, loving families just like everyone else.
Gay employees want the same things ALL employees want: a safe, inclusive and equitable work environment, free from hostility and harassment. A work environment where we are valued for what we bring to the work team and rewarded for the contributions we make. A work environment that values OUR families equally with all other Ford families.
When I hired in to Ford Motor Company five and half years ago, I did so with much trepidation. I didn't know a soul in Michigan. Ford did not have a gay employee group nor any diversity training. Despite 20 years of industrial engineering experience, I knew I could be fired simply for being who I am. Ford did not include sexual orientation in its written non-discrimination statement. Another company that had already extended me a job offer clearly included sexual orientation protection on its employment application form, something Ford still does not do. My first year here, I attended a candlelight vigil for a Ford engineer killed in a gay bashing, murdered in his own home in Dearborn Heights, the same township I lived in at that time. Fear can paralyze a person or it can act as a catalyst for change. I took a big risk coming to Ford and an even bigger risk coming out at work with no protection. To "out" myself to my supervisors was a terrifying experience. But I refused to live my life in fear. So did other Ford employees. Together we formed a support network for gay, lesbian or bisexual employees that eventually became known as Ford GLOBE.
One of GLOBE's most challenging objectives has been to help strengthen and maintain a safe work environment, free of harassment and homophobic behavior. While only 10% of Ford GLOBE's membership is comprised of hourly employees, over 90% of the anti-gay harassment complaints reported to GLOBE in the past five years have come from the plants. Harassment continues to be the top priority on the factory floor, with one of the most recent cases culminating in a failed suicide attempt. I am happy to report the sexual orientation protection has been added for the first time to the current Ford/UAW contract just negotiated.
While generally less blatant, Ford's office areas are not immune to similar harassing behavior. It was with great sadness that I forwarded to Gurminder Bedi earlier this summer an account from a 20-year Ford veteran here in PDC who felt compelled to remove a rainbow bumper sticker off her Ford van after anti-gay comments were directed towards her in the parking lot.
While Ford is by no means a perfect company, it has made great strides towards valuing a diverse workforce. I am very pleased to see that Ford Motor Company was included on the 1999 Gay and Lesbian Values Index and CEO Jac Nasser's recognition of this achievement. I recognize the positive changes that have occurred in the corporate culture at Ford that have earned it this award. I am proud that Ford was a corporate sponsor for this past weekend's Out and Equal Leadership Summit in Atlanta. Retired Ford Vice Chairman Allan Gilmour was the keynote speaker, Ford GLOBE presented a workshop, and Ford Recruiting had a recruiting booth and full-page ad in the conference brochure. I am also happy to report that national gay and lesbian newsmagazine, The Advocate, has chosen Ford Motor Company as one of 25 gay-friendly companies in its Oct. 26 issue.
In addition to these commendable achievements, I am also extremely pleased to be able to introduce to you today, one of my own role models at Ford Motor Company, Joy Geng. A 32-year Ford veteran, Joy worked her way up through the corporate ranks from a starting accountant until her retirement two years ago as Manager of the Ford Retirement and Savings Plan Department, NESC. Joy was the highest-ranking manager at Ford to ever publicly come "out" at work, an inspiration to all Ford's thousands of hard-working gay employees. She holds a Bachelors and a Masters Degree in Business from Wayne State University. Joy has experience in financial reporting, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, tax accounting, foreign exchange analysis and auditing. During the last Ford/UAW contract negotiations, she spent many a long night, sleeping in her office, if need be, to be available for Ford's negotiating team as they hammered out an agreement against the approaching deadline. A life-long resident of the Detroit area, Joy serves as the Treasurer and on the Board of Trustees for the Triangle Foundation, Michigan's statewide civil rights, advocacy and anti-violence organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. In addition Joy and her partner Mary enjoy playing golf and weekends up North.
I am deeply honored to present to you as today's featured speaker! ...Joy Geng...