This month, Phoenix-based start-up Tuft & Needle signed the UNITY Pledge in support of fully inclusive non-discrimination policies in the workplace, housing, and public accommodations for all Arizonans, including gay and transgender people. Tuft & Needle joins over 1,900 businesses and organizations including GoDaddy, Fry’s Food & Drug Stores, Yelp, Uber, Professional Firefighters of Arizona, PetSmart, and Coca-Cola in supporting a fully inclusive Arizona.
Currently, five municipalities have ordinances that ban discrimination; however, Arizona has no statewide laws that protect gay and transgender individuals from being fired based on their sexual orientation or gender identity, or discriminated against in housing and public accommodations.
“As a company we value equality when it comes to the treatment of our team members, our customers and the community at large. We do not agree with discrimination of any kind, and believe all members of the community deserve equal rights when it comes to the workplace, housing, and public accommodations,” said JT Marino, Tuft & Needle’s co-founder.
Created by ONE Community, a member-based coalition of LGBTQ and allied individuals and businesses; the UNITY Pledge is a public declaration to support and advance workplace equality and non-discrimination policies in housing and public accommodations for LGBTQ individuals and their allies in Arizona.
“We thank Tuft & Needle for signing the UNITY Pledge and being open for business to everyone. Inclusive businesses play a vital role in building inclusive communities,” said Angela Hughey, President of ONE Community. “Our friends at Tuft & Needle understand that inclusive non-discrimination is not only the right thing to do, but is good for their business and the business of Arizona,” concluded Hughey.