Issue #51 Monday, 02 September 2024
Welcome to the 51st edition of the LGBT Great News Digest! We're thrilled to bring you the top 5 LGBTQ+ news stories you need to know right now.
1– Attend our Bisexuality Allyship Webinar: Join us to celebrate National Inclusion Week and Bisexual Visibility Day through the lens of intersectional allyship. We will explore how allies can support members of marginalised groups and foster equality for all. Click here to register.
2– Attend our LGBTQ+ Women’s Reception: In partnership with Fidelity International, we invite you to join us on October 10th for a special event celebrating International Lesbian Visibility Day and World Mental Health Day. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect, and all are welcome! Don’t miss out! Secure One of 75 Tickets Fast. 3 – Quilter Awarded iiBT Gold: Congratulations to Quilter for earning the iiBT Gold recognition for their outstanding commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion. We're proud of their achievement! Interested in elevating your workplace’s inclusion efforts? Email Us to learn more. You can check out this issue’s five news stories below and watch out for our next Digest issue on Monday, the 16th of September. Best wishes, LGBT Great Team ___ Enjoyed this Digest? Click HERE to provide your feedback. |
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| 1. Survey finds more than half of LGBTQ+ employees have been bullied or harassed at work |
| On 28 August 2024, TUC published a new report which surveyed 1000 LGBTQ+ respondents. The report revealed that 52% of respondents had been bullied or harassed at least once at work. Only 1 in 6 said they had reported bullying to their employers. _____ Our View: Incidents of bullying and harassment have a profound impact on LGBTQ+ employees, with 38% of those experiencing bullying reporting negative mental health consequences and 1 in 3 stating a loss of confidence in the workplace.
Organisations have a responsibility to foster a culture where no bullying and harassment is tolerated and LGBTQ+ employees can feel safe and be their authentic selves. To understand how you can cultivate an inclusive culture, contact info@lgbtgreat.com
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| 2. New government extends puberty blocker ban |
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On 22 August 2024, the Department of Health announced that they had extended the period of the temporary ban on the supply and prescription of puberty blockers and expanded the ban to Northern Ireland as well. _____ Our View: This extension is at odds with the British Medical Association’s call to pause the temporary ban on puberty blockers. The BMA has been critical of the ban, calling for robust research to underpin youth healthcare.
Furthermore, experts warn that this ban won't eliminate puberty blocker usage. This will instead push trans youth towards unsafe practices, forcing them to access these medications through the black and grey markets without proper medical oversight and support. |
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| 3. Survey shows 92% trans people anxious about elections |
| On 8 August 2024, Folx released new data collected from 1500 trans respondents revealing that 92% of the respondents were anxious about the November elections. 90% also said that it would have a major impact on access to LGBTQ+ healthcare across the USA. _____ Our View: Presidential nominees from both parties have contrasting approaches with regards to LGBTQ+ equality. The Republican nominee, Donald Trump, has promised to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth and push for a federal law limiting gender identification to a binary.
Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, was one of the first elected officials to publicly back same-sex marriage and refused to defend proposition 8 which barred same-sex marriage equality. Her running mate Tim Walz has notably advocated for youth access to gender-affirming care whilst supporting other robust LGBTQ+ protections.
The result of the November 2024 election will have an enormous impact on LGBTQ+ equality across the USA and globally.
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| 4. Bulgaria passes anti-LGBTQ+ law |
| On 16 August 2024, Bulgaria published a controversial law which bans the “propaganda, promotion or incitement” of LGBTQ+ “ideas and views” in school. The law passed with a 159-22 majority and 12 abstentions. _____ Our View: An FRA report from 2023 found that 2 in 3 Bulgarians had hidden their LGBTQ+ identity at the workplace and nearly 1 in 3 had been subjected to conversion practices for being LGBTQ+. The survey revealed that Bulgaria was near the bottom of the rankings in most parameters measuring LGBTQ+ equality.
This law further marginalises Bulgaria's LGBTQ+ community by effectively erasing their identities and experiences from the educational curriculum.
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| 5. Australian census to ask about sexual orientation after backlash |
| On 29 August 2024, the Australian administration confirmed that they will include questions about sexuality in their 2026 census, reversing a previous decision to exclude any questions about LGBTQ+ identities to avoid “divisive” debates. _____ Our View: The Ipsos 2024 Pride report reveals a significant majority of Australians (54%) support LGBTQ+ people being open about their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, with only 13% opposed. This data underscores widespread public support for the community.
However, a lack of comprehensive census questions on LGBTQ+ identities contradicts this sentiment. While sexual orientation will be included in the upcoming census, the exclusion of gender identity questions remains a notable gap. This omission hinders accurate data collection and representation of the LGBTQ+ community, misaligning with the prevailing public opinion.
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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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