LGBTQ+ VOICES SPEAKING OUT AND LOOKING AHEAD

Inclusion Matters

The meaning of inclusion has expanded vastly over the last few years. We think it's crucial to emphasize the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace to make the office a safe space for all employees. Not only should inclusion be a priority, but also the norm in companies across the globe.

Every employee matters, as they contribute to the workplace and society. The wide spectrum of gender and sexuality must be adequately represented. 

Acknowledging The LGBTQ+ Spectrum

The queer community is a spectrum of various genders, sexualities, and sexual orientations. LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, while the 'plus' indicates the remainder of the spectrum. 

It's not black and white or as simple as 'straight' and 'not straight, and it's important to acknowledge people of all orientations to create a safe working environment. 'Gender' and 'sexual orientation' hold distinct meanings but are both vital components of identity.

Gender identity encompasses the biological features of an individual but with a great reference to social and cultural features. One may identify as a man, a woman, a trans man or trans woman, non-binary, pan-gender, and so on. Those who identify as either one of the two traditional genders (male/female) are recognized as cisgender, while others are transgender and other terms. Here's where pronouns come in, and calling someone the wrong one can be triggering and crushing to them.

Sexual orientation, on the other hand, refers to an individual's sexual partner preference and attraction. One can be straight (heterosexual), gay or lesbian (homosexual), pansexual, bisexual, asexual, aromantic, demisexual, and so on.

Since time immemorial, those who do not fit into the combination of cisgender and heterosexual (popular terminology for this is cis-het) have been ostracised and demonized, left with lifetimes' worth of trauma. 

What is far from being understood is that finding a place in the LGBTQ+ spectrum is not a choice but the very fabric of who a person is. This is why it is crucial to be respectful to everyone to break queerphobic cycles.

What Inclusion Means in the Workplace

Your workplace is where you spend most of your time.  Many LGBTQ+ individuals don't feel comfortable disclosing their gender identity or coming out to their colleagues. The fear of your career being affected by your identity, especially what you choose to disclose about it, is always prevalent.

In today's world, especially in the corporate sphere, we hear the words "diversity" and "inclusion" very often. The idea behind this is not only to hire people from diverse backgrounds but also to provide space for them to fit into the company and grow with it. You cannot simply hire LGBTQ+ folk to make your firm look good on paper - you also have to back this up with appropriate measures taken to make all employees feel wanted, comfortable and safe.

Creating a Safe Space for Queer Folk

The primary concern in terms of inclusion in the workplace for members of the LGBTQ+ community should be to create an environment where everyone feels safe. Many questions concern the queer community that "cis-het" people wouldn't have to think twice about. This includes wondering if one's gender identity can pose a problem for advancing one's career. 

The question of physical safety also arises: several queer folks have been victims of prejudice and crimes of hate and malice.

Creating a safe space for queer folk has several facets, and most important is being an ally. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Watch Your Words

The words we use can make all the difference in the world, which is why using the appropriate language is imperative in ensuring inclusion.

• Instead of using the collective "he/she," we may use a simple gender-neutral "they." This acknowledges the larger queer spectrum rather than only the gender binary.
• There may be gender non-conforming people at your office, so make it a point to learn people's pronouns and use them correctly.
• Call people out when you hear homophobic, transphobic, or queerphobic comments and jokes.

Diversity Training

Corporate pieces of training for diversity need to be specific and cover all components that we often forget in our everyday lives.

• Addressing biases, stereotypes, and prejudices about members of the LGBTQ+ community and working through them.
• Awareness programs about what to say and not to say to queer folk, how to address people appropriately, using pronouns correctly, etc.
• Involving un-closeted LGBTQ+ employees while planning and executing these pieces of training

Unisex Bathrooms, Dress Codes, etc

For "cis-hets," it's challenging to understand the anxiety of putting yourself in a box. This is the same anxiety that comes to gender-nonconforming individuals when choosing which bathroom to use or what clothes to wear to work.

The most viable solution to this is unisex loos and non-conforming dress codes. Unisex dress codes allow people wider choices, promoting inclusion in a very visible way. Not only are unisex washrooms cheaper to build, but they create an active inclusionary environment.

Stringent Policies Against Queerphobia

This one goes without saying, but it is one of the most important: stringent rules against those individuals partaking in queerphobic conversation and action. LGBTQ+ employees need to know that if they're wronged, there is a system to help them receive the redressal if they'd like to avail the same.

• Provisions for anonymous complaints against queerphobia in the workplace must be the norm.
• Workplaces must implement transparent and strict policies specific to LGBTQ+ employees to provide the safe space we discussed earlier.

Wrapping Up

When someone is freely allowed to express themselves, it relieves a lot of the stress that would otherwise come from the violation of being unable to be who you are. For the queer community, the same idea takes a much more complex form. 

If workplaces can be made more inclusive, it will help your employee satisfaction and happiness and, consequently, your workplace efficiency. We must take every chance we get to make our fellow queer colleagues feel as safe as possible around us, especially while at work.

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