Issue #62 - Monday, 24 February 2025
Welcome to issue 62 of the LGBT Great News Digest, a short briefing on the 5 LGBTQ+ news stories you need to know about right now. As always, here are 3 updates for you: 🏳️🌈 1 - Legacies of Leadership: Celebrate LGBTQ+ and Black History with us by attending our webinar on 25 February where we discuss the transformative legacies of leaders who have shaped history and continue to inspire workplace inclusion - Sign up here.
🎉2 - Work at LGBT Great: Like what we do? Come work with us as a Relationship Management & Business Development Manager - Click here to apply. 🏳️🌈 3 – Join our Online Community: Our online community is a safe digital space curated for you where you can access resources and meet others - Click here to join.
Check out this issue’s five news stories below and watch out for our next Digest issue on Monday, March 10th. 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. The LGBT Great Team
Enjoy reading our News Digests? Take 1 minute to provide your feedback HERE. |
|
| 1. LGBT Great releases member guidance to support with the DE&I backlash |
| On 24 February 2025, LGBT Great released member-exclusive guidance on navigating the DE&I backlash. This new guidance provides a concise summary of the key Executive Orders, their implications, and recommended actions for member organisations. _____ Our 2025 theme “The Belonging Advantage”, positions us well to support our members in turning these challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation, creating resilient organisations that lead with strength and conviction while cultivating a culture of inclusion & belonging for all their employees.
|
|
|
|
| 2. New poll finds nearly 1 in 10 identify as LGBTQ+ in the US |
|  |
On 20 February 2025, Gallup released its latest data from a 14,100 respondent survey which found that 9.3% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+. This has risen more than 1% point since the 2023 Gallup estimate. _____ Our View: The poll further found that nearly 1 in 4 Gen Z adults identify as LGBTQ+. This surge in open identification is reflective of destigmatization and acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities. However, this positive trend stands in stark contrast to the alarming rise of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The Trump administration's executive orders, specifically targeting transgender individuals and dismantling federal DE&I initiatives, represent a direct threat to the very community that is increasingly visible.
The disconnect between increasing identification and escalating legislative attacks highlights the urgent need for robust legal frameworks that safeguard the rights and well-being of all LGBTQ+ Americans. We must strive for a society where representation is not merely a statistic, but a foundation for genuine equality.
|
|
|
|
| 3. ILGA annual report reveals increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Europe and Central Asia |
|  |
On 18 February 2025, ILGA Europe released its annual review of LGBTQ+ trends in Europe and Central Asia. They warned “of a new era in which rising anti-LGBTI legislation threatens fundamental rights”, further adding “governments are fuelling anti-LGBTI sentiment to push laws that restrict freedom of expression, association, and fair elections.” _____ Our View: Seven countries have enacted “LGBT-propaganda” laws, restricting discourse on LGBTQ+ issues in addition to exclusion of LGBTQ+ topics in sex education curricula. Crucially, anti-LGBTQ+ hate speech was documented to be on the rise, fuelling bias and catalysing existing sentimental cleavages.
However, the positives are also important to acknowledge. Local courts and legislative bodies have stood up for LGBTQ+ asylum rights (Italy, Latvia Montenegro etc.) and free speech (Poland, Spain etc.). Multiple nations have also made progress on trans & non-binary inclusion in the region.
Despite the concerning setbacks in LGBTQ+ rights, the progressive strides remain strong and inspire us to create a world where everyone is included regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity.
|
|
|
|
| 4. New EY Report released in collaboration with LGBT Great |
| In January 2025, EY released a new report with LGBT Great as one of the collaborators. The report highlights the pillars of inclusion interventions that are most impactful in improving workplace equity for all. These pillars are: 1) Measurement, 2) Recruitment, 3) Retention and 4) Development & Progression. _____ Our View: This report powerfully demonstrates the business case for cultivating a culture of belonging and psychological safety, highlighting the tangible, positive impact of inclusion on organisational success.
By drawing on a range of independent sources that underscore the importance of inclusive practices, it provides compelling evidence for leaders and organisations to adopt a holistic approach to their long-term people strategies. This approach, centered on inclusion & belonging, has the potential to significantly enhance business performance.
|
|
|
|
| 5. Third of people believe asexuality can be “cured” |
|
On 07 February 2025, new research which surveyed 400 respondents was released by KCL in collaboration with Yasmin Benoit. It found that 1 in 3 people believed asexuality could be “cured” by therapy and 2 in 5 people believed that asexual people would not be asexual if they had sex. _____ Our View: These findings are further corroborated by data from a 2023 Stonewall report which found that only 5.7% of asexual respondents felt comfortable disclosing their identity to family members they don't live with, and a mere 17.6% reported receiving consistently positive responses from colleagues at work.
This persistent misunderstanding and stigmatisation underscores the urgent need for increased awareness and education regarding asexuality. We must work to dismantle the harmful misconceptions that perpetuate prejudice and create environments where asexual individuals feel seen, understood, and included. |
|
|
|
Applications for new Corporate Members are open. If you would like to find out more about the membership options with LGBT Great, get in touch today via this short form. |
|
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. |
|
|
