Issue #49 Monday, 05 August 2024
Welcome to issue #49 of the LGBT Great News Digest, a short briefing on the 5 LGBTQ+ news stories you need to know about right now. Highlighting a significant milestone, the Paris Olympics has set a record for the number of openly LGBTQ+ athletes which stands at 193. However, with 10,714 participants in 2024, this is just 1.8% so there is a long way to go! Let's keep on working together to inspire change.
As always, here are your 3 LGBT Great updates: Check out this issue’s five news stories below and watch out for our next Digest issue on Monday 19th August. Should you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to reach out to us. Our team is dedicated to providing any assistance you may need. Best wishes, LGBT Great Team ___ Enjoyed this Digest? Click HERE to provide your feedback. |
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| 1. Research finds LGBTQ+ talent adapts behaviour to break the rainbow glass ceiling |
| New research by Ryan Federo found that LGBTQ+ employees adapt their behaviour to enter boardrooms and break the rainbow glass ceiling by 1) hiding their sexual orientation and gender identity, 2) vocalising their LGBTQ+ identity to signal belongingness and 3) showcasing their ability in LGBTQ+-friendly ecosystems to get subsequent board appointments. _____ Our View: These findings complement another research paper from 2022 which found that LGBTQ+ CEOs are often put in precarious leadership positions. This implied that even after LGBTQ+ leaders break the rainbow ceiling, they face a “rainbow cliff”. It also found that companies with LGBTQ+ CEOs perform better but are undervalued by investors.
This suggests that reaching and retaining leadership positions remains disproportionately challenging for LGBTQ+ employees. To understand how you can enable a talent pipeline that levels the playing field for diverse talent to reach the top, contact info@lgbtgreat.com
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| 2. Younger generations of LGBTQ+ people take less time to come out after knowing their identity |
| On 26 July 2024, Gallup released new data which found that the average timespan between knowing you are LGBTQ+ and coming out has significantly decreased in younger generations. On average, young LGBTQ+ Americans took 3 years to come out after knowing about their identity while LGBTQ+ senior citizens took 10 on average. It also found that 1 in 5 respondents would never come out to others publicly. _____ Our View: This trend can be anecdotally attributed to societal acceptance. 70% of LGBTQ+ adults believe that the treatment and acceptance of LGBTQ+ people have gotten better over the last 10 years. However, 20% of the respondents also said they would never come out publicly.
The landscape of LGBTQ+ rights and protections has starkly shifted in the last few decades. As acceptance for the community increases, so will people’s confidence to come out loudly and proudly.
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| 3. British Medical Association calls for puberty-blocker ban to be lifted |
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On 31 July, the British Medical Association (BMA) called for a pause on the temporary ban on puberty blockers exercised by the government based on recommendations from the Cass Review. Their statement said, “The BMA has been critical of proposals to ban the prescribing of puberty blockers to children and young people with gender dysphoria, calling instead for more research to help form a solid evidence base for children’s care”. _____ Our View: The BMA’s statement holds significant weight for healthcare policy and comes at a time when the temporary ban on puberty blockers until 3 September 2024 was upheld in a High Court ruling. The Association’s stance is underpinned by the sentiment of multiple experts in the field of gender-affirming healthcare who have condemned the scientific quality of the Cass Review’s methodology and recommendations.
As healthcare professionals, forming policy based on robust scientific evidence remains crucial in creating equitable and impactful health outcomes for the LGBTQ+ community which already faces disproportionate levels of discrimination from healthcare providers.
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| 4. Killers of trans people to face up to 70 years in Prison under new Mexico City law |
| On 18 July 2024, lawmakers in the state of New Mexico reformed a law to ensure that people who murder trans people can be jailed for up to 70 years. The law passed by a 45-1 vote. _____ Our View: Killing of trans people due to their gender identity is known as transfemicide. It is claimed that over 95% of transfemicides in 2022 went unpunished in the nation.
With this reform, Mexico City has taken a significant step towards justice for the transgender community, becoming the second state in Mexico to hold perpetrators accountable for anti-trans violence.
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| 5. Burkinabè Junta criminalises same-sex relations |
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On 10 July 2024, the interim Justice Minister Edasso Rodrigue Bayala announced that the Junta’s cabinet had approved legislation to make same-sex relations punishable. More details on the length and type of punishment remain to be announced. President Nana Akufo-Addo has not signed it into law yet. _____ Our View: Previously, Burkina Faso was one of the 22 out of 54 countries that had not criminalised same-sex relations in Africa. However, public sentiment before this law remained unaccepting of LGBTQ+ people, with only 5% people saying they would accept a homosexual neighbour.
If the President signs this into law, the LGBTQ+ community will be actively prosecuted for being their authentic selves. |
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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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