At Astellas, we embrace diversity and inclusion and the benefits that this brings to our work every day. Inherent in the shared values that define The Astellas Way is inclusiveness, a companywide attribute brought to life when everyone on our team feels comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.  I am very happy to be writing about International Transgender Day of Visibility, which is marked every March 31 and highlight Astellas’s activities in recognition of this important day.  

I am proud to say that we are not just acknowledging our transgender colleagues and their families, but we are taking further actions to expand our diversity and inclusion efforts as well as ensure our transgender employees feel empowered and comfortable in bringing their whole selves to work in order to be fully involved and active in the future of Astellas.

So, in addition to flying the striped pink, white and blue transgender pride flag at our U.S. headquarters in Northbrook, last week our Together As One (TAO) Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted a Transgender “allyship” and awareness presentation as a part of our ongoing Ally curriculum. More than 60 employees attended. And we’re also launching Gender Transition Guidelines, which were developed to help address the needs of transgender employees during their transition while on the job at Astellas.

International Transgender Day of Visibility was created by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization in the country. We’re proud to have received a perfect score of 100 on its Corporate Equality Index for the past five years, as well as being named one of its “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality.”

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion across all groups continues to be woven into our culture every day, and will continue to evolve under the leadership of Eloiza Domingo-Snyder, who joined us last November in the newly created role of executive director of diversity and inclusion, Astellas US.

According to an HRC national survey, more than one in three Americans know someone who is transgender. So as we highlight our commitment to diversity and inclusion across the company, International Transgender Day of Visibility is a great reminder that we are stronger together. Stronger when everyone feels they belong here. Stronger when everyone feels they can be themselves and, in turn, bring the best of themselves to their work. That’s the Astellas Way!