Issue #30 Monday, 30 October 2023
Dear Subscriber,
Welcome to the latest issue of the LGBT Great News Digest, a short briefing on the 5 LGBTQ+ news stories you need to know about. Firstly, here are three LGBT Great updates for you:
1 – The Power of Data: Strategies for Improving DE&I Data Disclosure – Nov 8th Join us with LGBT Great Careers’ partner, Workable, to learn about best practices across the Financial and Professional Services industries. This webinar will also explore how our Careers service is positioned to support organisations in collecting more comprehensive diversity, equity and inclusion data at the point of attraction. Register and share the webinar with colleagues.
2 – Recognising Transgender Awareness Week: Nov 13th – 19th Launching on 15 November, the LGBT Great Top 10 Trans and Non-Binary Role Models will recognise and celebrate ten incredible people succeeding in the Financial and Professional Services industries. Our launch webinar will outline some best practice insights for creating a a more trans and non-binary inclusive workplace, and will also include a fireside conversation with a number of trans and nonbinary Project 1000 role models. Register and share the webinar with colleagues.
3 – FCA / PRA Diversity and Inclusion Consultation Paper LGBT Great met with Core Members last week to discuss the LGBTQ+ elements of the recent FCA and PRA consultation papers on DE&I. Over the next few weeks, we will be drafting a targeted response before sharing it back with Members and submitting in December 2023. If you would like to provide any thoughts or input, please email us.
Best wishes, LGBT Great Team ___ Enjoyed this Digest? Click HERE to provide your feedback. |
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| 1. Survey finds LGBTQ+ employees less engaged than before |
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On 24 October 2023, Workl r eleased new data from their Happy at Work Test, an assessment of happiness levels for over 25,000 organisations. For LGBTQ+ talent, they observed an overall decline in engagement between April and June 2023 with the engagement score falling from 70% to 67%. For UK LGBTQ+ employees specifically, the number fell to 65%. _____ Our View: These insights indicate that engagement, retention and an inclusive culture seem to be reciprocal enablers in the creation of an ecosystem where LGBTQ+ employees can thrive.
The opposite is also true -- a 2023 Deloitte survey that looked at LGBTQ+ inclusion at work found that about 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ folks were planning to leave their organisation because of its lack of focus or action on LGBTQ+ inclusion. |
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| 2. Japan's top court rules sterilisation not required for legal transition |
| On 25 October 2023, the Supreme court of Japan ruled that it was unconstitutional to require trans people to be sterilised for legal transition. This decision going against legislation from 2004, which stated that trans people must have their reproductive organs removed to be legally recognised. _____ Our View: This is a landmark judgement in Japan and follows a similar decision taken by a family court in Shizuoka earlier this year. In June, the national legislature of Japan also passed its first-ever law to ‘promote understanding’ and avoid ‘unfair discrimination’ toward the LGBTQ+ community.
Japan remains under immense geopolitical pressure as the only G7 nation to not recognise same-sex marriage in a world where LGBTQ+ protections are increasingly becoming the norm.
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| 3. Indian Supreme Court fails to legalise same-sex marriage |
| On 17 October 2023, the Indian Supreme Court failed to legalise same-sex marriage after the consideration of 21 petitions demanding equal rights for same-sex couples. The five-judge bench said that discrimination against same-sex couples must end, but it was up to the parliament of India to decide same-sex marriage legalities. _____ Our View:. In 2018, India abolished Section 377, a British legislative imposition that criminalised same-sex relations. In a sub-continent where LGBTQ+ identities see substantial representation across art, literature, culture and mythology, the Supreme Court’s judgement is a sobering reminder that progress can be rolled back just as it can be advanced.
That being said, Indian activists remain resolute and have voiced their determination to keep pushing for LGBTQ+ marriage equality until it becomes a reality.
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| 4. US LGBTQ+ older adults almost 2x more likely to rent their homes |
| Using data from the SHED between 2019-2021, recent analysis conducted by the LTSS Center and NCOA found that older LGBTQ+ adults were almost 2x more likely to rent their homes compared to non-LGBTQ+ folks. Moreover, they found that 15% of the respondent pool reported an annual income of less than USD 25,000. _____ Our View: These findings reflect that the disparity experienced by the LGBTQ+ community is not limited to socio-political aspects but also to financial well-being.
A 2019 Williams Institute report found that the LGBTQ+ community in the US continues to face disproportionate levels of poverty with almost 22% living under poverty compared to 16% of their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts.
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| 5. Hong Kong court rules in favour of equal inheritance rights for same-sex couples |
| On 24 October 2023, a Hong Kong court upheld a ruling which favoured the granting of equal inheritance rights to same-sex couples. A week before this decision, the same court also upheld two rulings which supported subsidised housing benefits for same-sex married partners. _____ Our View: September saw a landmark ruling from the city’s top court which urged the government to provide a framework to recognise same-sex partnerships. With multiple rulings in favour of advancing LGBTQ+ equality, formal legislative changes that would bolster LGBTQ+ protections seem imminent.
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Disclaimer The information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by LGBT Great and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the newsletter or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in the newsletter for any purpose. All the quotations in the news are presented as originally published. LGBT Great does not necessarily share the views of the quoted authors and is not responsible for the accuracy of the information or quality of the analysis provided by them. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. |
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