What Pride means to us

Every year, we at LeasePlan show our full support for Pride Month, the annual celebration of LGBTQI+ communities around the world with all kinds of activities. This year, we’re sharing our best Pride stories and selfies with the progress flag, the newer, more inclusive version of the rainbow Pride flag, on Yammer and Instagram. Here are a few of our favourite Pride stories so far. We look forward to hearing your Pride story next.

Tell us about yourself and your role at LeasePlan?

My name is Hayden Lutek, I live in Amsterdam, and I manage external communications and media relations for 32 LeasePlan countries. I also work on our public affairs initiatives. My hobbies include biking and travelling and I’m very interested in politics and activism.

What does Pride mean to you?

As a member of the LGBTQI+ community, I know that the ability to walk down a street safely is a privilege I simply don’t enjoy – hate crimes against LGBTQI+ people are a daily reality and can happen anywhere. Pride tells a watching world that equality matters and that everyone should have the right to be who they are, and live in peace and harmony with their surroundings with respect and dignity.

Do you have a unique or special Pride story?

I went to Pride for the first time in Amsterdam in 2009 (when I was 17). I come from a deeply homophobic suburb in Canada, and for me to able to see people being so open and free was amazing. I saw members of my community holding hands in public for the first time in my life, and I thought that perhaps I could also one day have the opportunity to live my life as myself, without fear. It was really an amazing experience that actually changed the course of my life.

Tell us about yourself and your role at LeasePlan?

My name is Renee Agneessens. I am 56 and live near Leuven in Belgium. I am the People & Performance Director at LPBE. I’ve been working for LPBE for 20 years already and I still enjoy it every day. I love nature walks and reading, especially Jane Austen, an early example of a liberated woman.

What does Pride mean to you?

Being authentic. Don’t put energy in adapting but be yourself – stand out, believe in yourself and don’t let others tell you who you have to be or how you have to act. Let people judge you on what you do, not on who you are as a person. That is also the meaning of the colour purple in the rainbow flag: it stands for “character”.

What does the progress flag mean to you?

It’s a call to conscience. We don’t live in a world where everyone is treated equally. Today I learned that Seid Visin, a young Italian football player, committed suicide because he was convinced there was no room for him in the world to be himself. That is the essence of the progress flag: being yourself and learning from each other.

Tell us about yourself and your role at LeasePlan?

My name is Bas van Poorten. I’m Dutch, 35 years old and I live with my boyfriend in Amsterdam. I have worked in the Strategy & Transformation team at LeasePlan Corporation for four years. In my free time, I like to play padel, travel, meet up with family and friends, or watch movies and tv shows.

Do you have a unique or special Pride story?

I had the opportunity to join the LeasePlan boat during the 2018 Amsterdam Pride canal parade, which was a great way to bond with like-minded LeasePlanners from around the world and share a unique experience at the heart of the celebration. It’s also really nice to see the crowds of people who have come out to support the community and cause.

Amsterdam Pride has been celebrated for 25 years. What are you most proud of in this city and what needs work?

I am most proud of the openness and acceptance, as well as the number and variety of public events and establishments where you can express yourself. Yet, acceptance is still challenged sometimes, which points to the need for continuous exposure and even more education around the topic.