Could your business be doing more to include LGBTQ+ people?

EQuIP meetings always bring together the key leaders, advocates and changemakers in equality and inclusion to create meaningful discussions on how we can make Brighton and Hove a city that truly welcomes everyone. 

In the latest EQuIP meeting, we spent time reflecting on research that shows how LGBTQ+ people and communities have been more impacted by COVID-19 and what this may mean as we move towards post-COVID life. And while we as a city have long been proud to be called the unofficial LGBTQ+ capital of the UK, there is still much more that can be done to ensure that our whole city is inclusive to LGBTQ+ people.

So what can we, as businesses, do to express allyship and include LGBTQ+ people? Here are some shifts that will really make a difference.

Remove gender-biased language from your vocabulary

If you stop to reflect, you’ll notice how much of the language is exclusionary to LGBTQ+. But there are simple shifts you can make to your language to ensure you’re including everyone, such as:

• Replacing ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ with ‘To whom it may concern’
• Replacing ‘ladies and gentlemen’ with ‘esteemed guests’
• Avoiding saying ‘him or her’ or ‘he or she’ and instead saying ‘they’
• Never assume the gender of someone’s partner, ie saying ‘spouse’ or ‘partner’ rather than ‘husband’ or ‘girlfriend’

Signal that you’re LGBTQ+ inclusive

There are lots of small changes that will signpost to LGBTQ+ people that they are safe with your business. For example, did you know that you can mark your business as LGBTQ friendly and a transgender safe space on Google My Business? This is currently only available for certain categories of business, but Google have announced they will be expanding to allow the option for all businesses in the near future!

Another simple change you can make is to add your pronouns to your email signature, if you feel comfortable doing so, and include them when you introduce yourself to new partners, clients and customers.

Create internal safe spaces for LGBTQ+ staff

If you’re a larger organisation, consider creating an Employee Resource Group where LGBTQ+ staff can meet and discuss any barriers or biases they may be facing in the workplace. If you create these spaces and encourage open and honest communication through them, you’ll foster an environment in which employees can speak freely and work with you to shape your workplace into one that’s truly inclusive for all.

Support LGBTQ+ organisations

We’re lucky in Brighton and Hove to be surrounded by many wonderful LGBTQ+ charities and enterprises that have a city-wide, national or even international reach. If you don’t already have relationships with local LGBTQ+ charities such as Switchboard, Mind Out and Allsorts Youth Project, consider how you can support them through donations, fundraising efforts and partnerships.

Ensure your entire staff feel confident about diversity and inclusion

As well as leading the way in making your organisation inclusive to LGBTQ+ people, take steps to make it easy for your whole staff to follow suit. Arrange diversity and inclusion training that supports you and your whole team to unpack and dismantle the biases you hold and remove the intersectional barriers faced by LGBTQ+ people as well as other groups that experience marginalisation. At Diversity and Ability, we offer a range of workshops and training programmes that centre intersectionality and help you break down disabling barriers, all in a way that is completely customised to the style and needs of your organisation.

What’s next for EQuIP?

Remember that Diversity and Ability’s goal at the EQuIP meetings is to represent the opinions and needs of Brighton’s business sector. So the more we hear from you, the better. If you have a thought to share or issue to discuss that you would like to bring to EQuIP’s attention, you can get in contact with us by emailing Emma Turner on workplace@diversityandability.com. 

Our next meeting is Wednesday 20th October, so get in touch before then and we’ll be sure to bring your issues to the agenda. We’d love to hear from you and help shape the landscape of equality and inclusion for Brighton businesses!

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk