Bungie “committed” to addressing demands for trans-inclusive healthcare

gamesindustry.biz:

James Batchelor

Editor-in-Chief

Thursday 14th July 2022

Bungie has said it is "committed to the long-term work needed" to address an issue raised by a trans employee regarding its healthcare.

Senior visual designer Signy Davis posted a letter on Twitter, spotted by Kotaku, describing her experience trying to arrange gender-affirming surgery as recently as June, only to be denied by Bungie's health insurance provider Premera.

This issue has been ongoing for two years, due to "Premera's continued discriminatory practices and Bungie's lack of priority and action," Davis wrote. While she was positive about her experience overall at Bungie, she urged the company and its soon-to-be-parent Sony -- plus the games industry at large -- to address this for the sake of all trans employees.

"I believe in Bungie's commitment toward bettering our inclusion, diversity, and equity," she wrote. "This commitment is reflected in the kindness, professionalism, and friendship I've been shown since my first day on the job. I want to grow at Bungie and make career-defining work. But I can't while I'm actively fighting for my life. I can't be hopeful for my future while our health insurance continues to deny my humanity.

"I know many people at Bungie care about this issue and are doing their best to right this wrong. I am thankful for the open and ongoing conversations I've had and hope to continue having with Bungie HR. But major gaps of coverage and the medical insurance industry's repeated attempts to erase transgender people is actively harming me and my fellow coworkers now, today.

I am tired of seeking care and receiving trauma instead. I recognize this is a complex and multi-layered problem, but I hope for change and soon. Bungie and the