Recently revealed footage of a Delta Airlines official shows that the company is, in fact, quite woke.
Kyra Lynn Johnson, Delta’s chief diversity officer, said in a conversation with other diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) leaders that “ladies and gentlemen” would soon be out of style for the company, to be replaced with more “gender inclusive” phrases. The recording is from a February 2021 meeting but is gaining attention now after being uncovered.
Johnson’s comments followed a December 2020 initiative which updated the company’s “inclusive language guide” to avoid affirming the reality that there are two genders. Employees were encouraged via that document to “use gender-neutral language,” including pronouns.
In the recently uncovered video that is currently making its rounds on social media, Johnson explains that Delta is considering how to make certain communications such as gate announcements more “inclusive.” She said that using the words “welcome ladies and gentlemen” is not “as gender inclusive” as the company “want[s] to be.”
Johnson’s job description, per her biography provided by the company, is to spearhead Delta’s DEI “strategy” with “action plans” that will directly “impact” both customers and employees of the company. The airline also noted that her “leadership” is the pinnacle for its overall efforts to “promote inclusion” and “foster sustainable results” when it comes to DEI initiatives.
Previously, the company has enacted other left-wing policies, including the requirement to capitalize “Black” and “Brown” when writing to describe race—but also told them not to bother capitalizing “White.” Delta has also come under fire for helping to transport illegal immigrants across the country.
In October 2022, the company announced that it was initiating “non-binary gender options” for customers to state their gender (or lack thereof) while booking flights. Instead of just giving options for “male” and “female,” Delta introduced X or “unspecified” and U or “undisclosed.”
According to the press release, the initiative was one of many “ongoing efforts” by Delta to “reflect inclusivity” and prioritize a so-called “equitable travel experience” for its diverse customers.
