Wells Fargo Had a Busy Pride Season

Wells Fargo & Company has long been a leader among U.S. financial services providers in its commitment to the LGBT community, and this year marks one of their busiest LGBT pride seasons ever. From Seattle to South Florida, the bank is participating in 40 LGBT Pride parades and festivals, with more than 20 just last month. It's a history that began almost twenty years ago, in 1992, when Wells Fargo sponsored its first LGBT Pride event in San Francisco.

Since that time, the company has continued to broaden its participation, culminating with a presence this year in Pride festivals and parades coast to coast, in locales both familiar and surprising. Wells Fargo venues this year include LGBT Pride events in Boise, Idaho and Birmingham, Ala., as well as Black Pride in Philadelphia. As it did on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, the iconic Wells Fargo Stagecoach will appear in 22 of these celebrations.

"Wells Fargo believes that building and strengthening its relationship with the LGBT community is a year-round endeavor," said Shelley Freeman, Wells Fargo's Florida regional president and LGBT National Spokesperson. "Our Pride Month activities reflect Wells Fargo's long-term commitment to our LGBT customers and our LGBT team members -- including the thousands that participate in our 27 PRIDE team member networks across the U.S. -- and the positive impact we're able to make in their lives."

For the last 25 years, Wells Fargo has supported many causes of importance to the LGBT community and developed strong alliances with key LGBT organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign; the National Center for Lesbian Rights; Out & Equal Workplace Advocates; the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN). This year, Wells Fargo is placing a particular emphasis on anti-bullying endeavors, supporting GLSEN's 'Safe Space' campaign.

"Wells Fargo's generous support of the Safe Space Campaign enabled us to launch our effort to ensure that every student in America, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity or gender expression, is safe in school and free to learn," said Eliza Byard, GLSEN's Executive Director. "Wells Fargo is helping us reach more than 75,000 schools, serving 25 million students, during the three-year Safe Space Campaign." The Safe Space Kit (safespacekit.com) -- with Safe Space stickers, posters, and a 42-page guide with strategies for supporting LGBT students -- provides a program of action that school staff can take to create a positive learning environment for every student.

Wells Fargo has also put in place employees sensitive to LGBT issues and finances. In 2009, the company developed the Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor (ADPA) program. Wells Fargo Financial Advisors who have earned this certification are able to offer LGBT clients guidance on key domestic partnership issues, including joint ownership of property, beneficiary designations, trust services and other arrangements. It is a first in the financial services industry.

Stated Mark Tristan Ng, Wells Fargo's LGBT Segment Manager. "Our bankers are available to meaningfully engage with our LGBT customers, discussing and providing the right financial education and guidance that will help them on the path towards financial success."

A new branch of Wells Fargo has just opened on Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, across the street from South Florida Gay News. "I can't tell you how impressed I was with their staff," said Sebastian Fortino, SFGN Features editor. "They all came over to our offices, greeted us personally, and welcomed us. We should have been welcoming them."

Founded and headquartered in San Francisco in 1852, Wells Fargo was ranked number 23 on Fortune's 2011 rankings of America's largest corporations. They have more than 9,000 stores and 12,000 ATMs.

Visit WellsFargo.com or Wachovia.com for more information.