Its Pride month. A tradition that that goes back over 50 years to the first Pride event in New York. There has always been a need to hear the voices of those who identify in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning (LGBTQ+) community.
In the 1980s the AIDS epidemic created a backlash particularly against gay men. Media called AIDS the gay plauge. It was in this anti-gay backlash that I came out to my parents. I had met the love of my life and I knew I wanted to commit to a long-term relationships. I could have lied, or avoided being fully open with my parents, but such subterfuge is simply not part of my nature. So as soon as I knew I was commiting to my partner, I took her to meet the parents. As you can imagine, it was not a pleasant experience.
My staunch Irish Catholic parents struggled to even comprehend what I was saying and then they were angry that I would even consider such a life choice. But even as a young woman, I knew that this was the right path for me and I was willing to walk away from all family ties, if it meant experiencing true love with a partner who respected me. I am pleased to say, that despite a rocky few months, we managed to keep in touch as a family and whilst my very religious mother was never truly accepting of the relationship, an uneasy truce and even respect for my partner did develop.
In the last two decades, the legal rights and protections of LGBTQ+ people has increased enormously and many countries have acknowledged and legalised gay marriage. Workplaces on the whole have become more LGBTQ+ friendly, with many having affinity groups where communities of support can be created. Yet we know that the picture is very uneven across the world.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, in the US alone:
- Over 540 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in state legislatures;
- Over 220 bills specifically target transgender and non-binary people, ; and
- 45 anti-LGBTQ laws have been enacted so far this year.
Not only has the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation made companies and employees seeking to support and hire LGBTQ+ employees harder, but it has also made workplaces less equitable.
And if we look further afield, we find that there are 11 countries that carry the death sentence for LGBTQ+ people. So we need to look at ways we can tip the balance.
During Pride month, is there anything you can do to show support to your LGBTQ+ colleagues? Is there space for employees to share their experience and give feedback on how things can be improved? Do you have LGBTQ+ family members you could talk to and ask what support they might need? Do you have time to volunteer at charities that help people (particularly young people and those newly coming out) to navigate their new reality?
The more we can actively support the LGBTQ+ community, the easier it becomes for everyone.
If you would like to have a confidential chat about the issues raised in this blog, please message me, or email on: Mary@Agents2Change.com.