Issue #29 Monday, 16 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 – New Members Join the LGBT Great Careers Mission LGBT Great Careers is in its 5th week since launch, and we are off to a very good start with 37 Careers Partners, 132 jobs published on the platform and 540 candidate applications as of last week. Most recently, BNY Mellon, Aon, and Neuberger Berman have joined the LGBT Great Careers mission as Careers Partners to help build a new pipeline of LGBTQ+ talent for the Financial and Professional Services industries.
Looking ahead, October stands to be just as busy as we broaden access to the platform to our non-LGBT Great Member community, spotlight some of the Early Careers roles available, and finalise the launch of LGBT Great Careers for our Charity Partner network. You can get your Employer involved by completing this form: Become an organisational Careers Partner.
2 – First Scotland ‘Shining the Light’ Event in partnership with M&G plc On 26th October, LGBT Great will be in Edinburgh with our Members. We will be hosting an event exploring all things empowerment in the workplace. Please share and invite your colleagues: Shining the Light Event Registration.
3 – Discover our New LGBTQ+ Language and Terminology Awareness Course A common barrier to engagement in discussions around LGBTQ+ inclusion is the fear of ‘getting it wrong’. This new course provides an industry-focused lens and a space to discover and learn. Discover and Book the Course.
Best wishes, LGBT Great Team ___ Enjoyed this Digest? Click HERE to provide your feedback. |
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| 1. Survey finds 44% increase in LGBTQ+ employees being 'out' at work |
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On 26 September 2023, Out Leadership and Out for Undergrad released a global workplace survey of over 2,700 LGBTQ+ employees from 5 continents. It found that the LGBTQ+ employees who reported being ‘out’ at work has risen from 36% to around 80% between 2016-2023. Moreover, they found 70% LGBTQ+ workers also agreed that being 'out' has helped their career advancement. _____ Our View: A 44% jump in people being 'out' at work indicates the progress around LGBTQ+ inclusion that organisations have made globally. These findings demonstrate that embracing and acknowledging one's authentic self in the workplace is not just having a positive impact on how people feel at work, but a material impact on their career trajectory. |
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| 2. Mauritius decriminalises homosexuality |
| On 1 October 2023, the Mauritius High Court decriminalised homosexuality by rendering Article 250 of the country’s penal code unconstitutional. The Article dated back to 1838 and outlawed consensual same-sex relations under ‘sodomy' laws, which were punishable by up to 5 years in prison. _____ Our View: It is encouraging to see another country embark on their journey of LGBTQ+ equality. This announcement from Mauritius brings down the number of countries that criminalise same-sex relations down to 64.
Nevertheless, 64 remains a substantial figure, serving as a sobering reminder of the distance we still have to go as a global community to achieving full recognition and equality for LGBTQ+ people.
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| 3. Report shows only 14% of Fortune 100 companies disclose data on LGBTQ+ workforce |
| On 03 October 2023, a report released by Out Leadership found that only 14% of the Fortune 100 companies share the size of their LGBTQ+ workforce through ESG and DEI reports. However, 91% of those explicitly include information around their LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts. _____ Our View:. Although 14% is a somewhat disappointing figure overall, it’s worth noting the impressive progress over time in the disclosure of LGBTQ+ DE&I data. This progress is highlighted by a tenfold increase, with the number of companies providing this data rising from 4 to 42 out of a total of 220 evaluated between 2017 and 2022.
For a scrupulous assessment of where your company stands in its LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts, sign up to our iiBT framework or contact alex@lgbtgreat.com
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| 4. CFE report shows rise in anti-LGBTQ+ abuses in Uganda |
| On 28 September 2023, a new report published by Convening for Equality coalition has reportedly found that 306 rights violations have been recorded between 1 January 2023 and 31 August 2023 in Uganda, with only 25 being performed by state actors. _____ Our View: For comparison, state actors accounted for about 70% of all such anti-LGBTQ+ violations in both 2021 and 2022. In 2023, they account for less than 10%.
These statistics reflect the shift in public sentiment in Uganda following the passing of a prominent anti-LGBTQ+ bill earlier this year.
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| 5. Attacks on LGBTQ+ rights linked to lower levels of democracy |
| On 27 September 2023, a new study was released by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, which found that countries which persecute members of the LGBTQ+ community are more likely to be on a "democratic backslide". Higher rates of LGBTQ+ acceptance were also found to be linked with higher levels of liberal democracy. _____ Our View: There is a distinct lack of data in this area across the board, which makes it difficult for policymakers to build robust cases for change. This report is a great addition to the growing field of study exploring the lived experiences and challenges of the LGBTQ+ community.
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| Upcoming Events & Webinars |
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Applications for new Corporate Members are currently open. If you would like to find out more about the membership options with LGBT Great, get in touch today via this short form. |
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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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