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Miller Lite’s goal is to reach bars across the country through inclusivity training, town halls, and a $ 250,000 donation to the Equality Federation

Miller Lite and Equality Federation announce the “Open & Proud” program, an initiative aimed at creating safe, inclusive spaces in bars for the LGBTQ community.

The program includes developing and implementing inclusivity training materials for bar owners and employees in the 55,000 bars and nightclubs where the brand of beer is sold. These educational materials are influenced by intersectional LGBTQ experiences shared in town halls across the country.

Everyone deserves to be their authentic self in every bar, but this is not always the case with members of the LGBTQ community. There have been countless reports of LGBTQ people not feeling welcome in restaurants and bars, and LGBTQ, transgender and gender-disagreed people being discriminated against in LGBTQ bars.

As a beer that believes everyone should be themselves at all times, Miller Lite has partnered with the Equality Federation to address this key concern in the community and take an impactful step to ensure that all LGBTQ people accept and accept each other to feel welcome.

“By listening directly to the unique intersectional needs of the LGBTQ community, Miller Lite aims to create safer and more acceptable spaces where we can have a direct impact – bars,” said Sofia Colucci, vice president of marketing, Miller Family of Brands. “Miller Lite has always been a strong advocate of the LGBTQ community and we strive to learn and develop through those efforts.”

The Open & Proud program consists of townhall events across the country where LGBTQ people can participate and share their open, open experiences and thoughts on how bars can be made more inclusive; The development of educational materials for bars and restaurants across the country based on the lessons learned from town hall events; and a donation of US $ 250,000 / £ 179,000 to the Equality Federation to promote fairness in the workplace and equality for LGBTQ people nationally and locally.

Markets that host events and the state members that host them include Chicago (Equality Illinois), Atlanta (Georgia Equality), and New Jersey (Garden State Equality). Miller Lite will also host an LGBTQ Workplace Inclusion Workshop for New York bar and restaurant workers in collaboration with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York.

Miller Lite has worked with the Equality Federation since 2017 and has contributed to funding the various initiatives of the LGBTQ advocacy organization, including its annual Leadership Conference, Work on Non-Discrimination in the Workplace, and Transgender Rights. The brand has donated a total of $ 350,000 / £ 251,000 and plans to continue partnering with future donations and impactful programs.

“Miller Lite has been a true advocate of our organization nationally and locally since 2017, and the brand has a long history as an open ally of the LGBTQ community,” said Fran Hutchins, executive director of the Equality Federation. “We continue our partnership and are excited to support Open & Proud, a grassroots program that takes a listening approach to addressing the unique challenges and needs of the LGBTQ community when it comes to bars.”

“Open & Proud” is the next step in Miller Lite’s long journey to uplift, empower, and support LGBTQ people. From fundraising for local LGBTQ and HIV / AIDS non-profits for more than 30 years to supporting the Equality Act, the brand has always strived to be the best ally it can be.

Miller Lite is also one of the first beverage companies to market directly to the community, dating back to the 1970s when it sponsored the Folsom Street Fair in San Francisco and advertised in LGBTQ magazines like New Orleans’ Impact and Washington DC’s The Blade .

Molson Coors has had a perfect 100 points in the Corporate Equality Index of the Human Rights Campaign every year since 2004 and was honored with the Corporate Equality Award in 2016. More recently, Miller Lite has supported the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which is raising awareness to prevent hate crimes against LGBTQ people.