41% of LGBTQs go back in the closet when starting their first job
"People who felt comfortable being out in education are not at work," said a panellist at last night's Proud In Business discussion in London
Words: Brian Leonard; pictures: Provided
The startling statistic that 41% of LGBTQs go back in the closet when starting their first job was spotlighted at an LGBTQ business inclusion panel last night.
Host Xavier White (he/him), CSR, DE&I, & Innovation Marketing Manager at Verizon, cited the research while leading the ‘Being LGBT+ at Work’ discussion at the Royal Society of Arts in London.
“That’s why we’re having this conversation,” said White. “People who felt comfortable being out then [in their education] are not in the workplace.”
“Diversity is directly proportional to profit”
The research in question, conducted in 2018, also found that 76% of LGBTQs have hidden their sexual orientation or gender identity at work at least once.
The ‘PROUD IN BUSINESS | BURBERRY X VERIZON’ panel also featured Zee Monteiro (they/she), an activist who works with UK Black Pride & Stonewall, plus Rachel Reese (she/her) of Global Butterflies and Ash Lawrence Wilson (he/him) of British Airways.
During the talk, White added: “There’s a really great study that shows diversity is proportional to innovation and innovation is proportional to profit. Therefore diversity is directly proportional to profit. And that makes sense, because the more diversity of thought you have in the room, the more people you have to spot the errors you’ve made.
“If you fill the room with people who are all the same you’ve got an echo chamber. No one is going to critique your work.”
Also present at the event were Darren Styles, owner of Attitude and Rolling Stone UK and Attitude Magazine Foundation founder, plus Rupert Abbott, Executive Director of Give Out and Simon Croft, Director of Professional and Educational Services at Gendered Intelligence.
The Attitude July/August issue featuring exclusive interviews the cast of Queer As Folk is out now.