LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

Despite the increase in corporate commitments to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) and the growing acceptance in society of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual people (collectively known as LGBTQIA+), according to the Human Rights Campaign, 46 percent of LGBTQ individuals remain closeted at work. 

The main reasons LGBTQIA+ people choose to remain silent is due to: 

• fear of being bullied and discriminated against, 
• fear of being stereotyped or tokenized, 
• not wanting to make others uncomfortable, and  

• having concerns that it will cause them to lose relationships or career growth opportunities. 

​Progress over the last two decades has been made but it is still an ongoing challenge. According to a recent report by the Human Rights Campaign, they counted 842 employers who achieved a perfect score and 1,271 companies who are actively participating in its 2022 corporate equality index, which benchmarks participants on their LGBTQ-inclusive benefits, policies, and practices. This is compared to 300 total participants and 13 organizations receiving top scores when the report was launched in 2002. 

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