Ansys Focuses on LGBTQ+ Health and Wellbeing to Celebrate Pride 2023

Around the world, the LGBTQ+ community celebrates Pride Month in June. It is a month dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community, its history, visibility, and contributions to culture and social change. During this month and throughout the year, Ansys celebrates the courageous individuals who have publicly taken a stand against discrimination and stood up for the rights of the community. At Ansys, we strive to create an environment that is safe and welcoming for everyone — especially our LGBTQ+ colleagues.

Ansys is a global company headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and we are a leader in engineering simulation software. We provide solutions that enable innovators across industries to push boundaries with the predictive power of simulation — from sustainable transportation and advanced semiconductors to satellite systems and life-saving medical devices. In addition to changing the world through our products, we are proud to celebrate and honor the diversity of our employees and their communities.

I have the honor and privilege to serve as the executive sponsor of our Ansys Pride Alliance employee resource group (ERG) — one of six ERGs here at Ansys. The Pride Alliance’s mission is to create a safe space and active network for the LGBTQ+ community at Ansys.

The group formed in 2020 and has grown to 150 engaged members across the globe. The group meets regularly to plan community events, educational sessions, and social hours. With employees based around the globe, the Pride Alliance keeps our LGBTQ+ community and its allies connected across time zones and cultures. We also offer opportunities for engagement with our external partners, many of whom are supporting the next generation of LGBTQ+ pioneers in STEM. I’m personally proud of the fact that in 2022, Ansys was awarded oSTEM’s Strategic Alliance Partner Award, which could not have been achieved without a community of people willing to support our ERG’s mission. I am incredibly proud of this recognition and the progress we are making every day at Ansys.

This month, we are focusing our Pride celebration on the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community. Last November, we heard from Google executive, Dr. Esteban Lopez, on how marginalized communities are more susceptible to health issues due to stressors involved in being in a minority group. Health equity is important to the LGBTQ+ community to ensure all people have access to healthcare services and resources without discrimination or economic barriers. Health equity also ensures that LGBTQ+ individuals are treated with respect, care, and dignity when seeking medical attention and are not subjected to unwarranted personal or health judgments based on their unique needs.

Inequity in healthcare became much clearer when someone close to me began the process of gender affirming surgery; I learned firsthand the challenges it entails. It spurred me to learn more about health inequity. Here are few things I found:

·      Approximately 17% of LGBTQ+ individuals lack health insurance, compared to 12% of the general population.

·      The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S. — and at least one individual attempts suicide every 45 seconds.

·      Approximately one in three transgender individuals report having been denied healthcare coverage due to their gender identity. (The Fenway Institute, 2020)

·      Gender-affirming health care is backed by decades of research and supported by every major medical association representing over 1.3 million U.S. doctors.

Motivated by these realities, the Ansys Pride Alliance will host activities to educate our minds and exercise our bodies throughout Pride Month. These events include:

·      A discussion on “Biological Sex” and the pathologization of transgender people with Dr. Julia Serano. With a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biophysics, Julia challenges common presumptions of the biological sex binary, and presents a more holistic understanding of sex, gender, and transgender people.

·      Employee summits in Sheffield, UK and Exton, PA, encouraging in-person connection.

·      Our 3rd annual Pride Bake-Off.

·      A virtual 5k walk/run in support of our Pride month theme.

·      Pride Month social including trivia.

These activities provide opportunities for our employees to embrace our core ONE Ansys values of “Be generous,” “Be open,” “Be courageous,” and “Be you.” Pride Month is an exciting time of year for the LGBTQ+ community! Let's come together to honor each other's stories and identities as we continue to build momentum and progress. Let's not forget to be proud and keep pushing for a better future!

#LifeAtAnsys #Pride2023 #AnsysPride