As February is Black History Month in the United States and LGBT+ History Month in the UK, it is a good time to reflect on the progress made in these areas both on a societal level and within business. The advancements we have seen over recent years for the LGBT+ community including civil partnerships and marriage, would have been considered unachievable just 20 years ago.
Powerful Allyship was a key ingredient in seeing these
new policies enforced in several western societies. Yes, advances have been
made for the LGBT+ community, however, there is still much work to do to ensure
this momentum is maintained.
The same principle applies to the Black experience of acceptance and inclusivity. The global outrage at the death of George Floyd was a turning point for Black Allyship. We witnessed a universal acknowledgement that all things are not equal.
The workplace has continued to be a focal point for issues on equality. And rightfully so since many of us will spend much of our lifetime at work and business. So, it is evident that the best employers recognise the value in taking proactive steps to create inclusive workplace environments. But all too often, LGBT employees still face barriers including little confidence in bullying reporting procedures, a lack of visible senior support for LGBT equality and inadequate policies.
In a recent Stonewall report, it is shown that One in eight Black, Asian and minority ethnic LGBT employees (12 per cent) have lost a job in the last year because of being LGBT, compared to four per cent of white LGBT staff.
How are you supporting your staff during this February's LGBT History Month? Is there a safe space to discuss the intersection of being Black and LGBT+? It’s fair to say that the call for Black Equity and inclusion goes beyond a single strand view of gender, age, or sexual orientation.
How
do we change this? Are you considering Anti-Racist training? Need guidance on
what to do next? Does your organisation need a policy review? Contact Metis
today, our team of inclusion specialists are here to help you. Our
Anti-Racism/Allyship session has helped educate commercial organisations and
charities on the entrenched historical issues that hinder Black inclusion.
Tailored to your audience, our workshop has raised awareness and empowered participants to confidently address racial injustice both personally and professionally. Contact us to see how we can support your organisation on its inclusion journey.
