On Thursday 24 June, the Institute marked Pride with a dedicated event for the third consecutive year, “LGBTQ+ in the workplace: celebrating inclusion in 2021”. The event was the result of collaboration between by the Institute’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, the Young Professionals Committee and CA Support.
Members in Ireland and around the world were privileged to hear from three outstanding advocates for greater inclusion in the workplace, each of whom shared personal experiences and the unique challenges that they have encountered in their advocacy.
The first speaker was Éirénne Carroll, Chief Executive of TENI (Transgender Equality Network Ireland). Éirénne spoke of her experience of coming out at work in 2016 in North Carolina. Her decision coincided with the signing of a bill blocking cities in the state from allowing transgender individuals to use public bathrooms for the sex they identify as. While relieved to find employer support for her decision to share her full self at work, Éirénne was challenged by the lack of organisational policies to support her, something she had to research and lead on the development of herself.
TENI was founded in 2006 as a Dublin-based support group for transgender adults. It now has ten regional groups and eight youth and family support groups around the country and offers support, education and advocacy.
Laila El-Metoui, Equity & Belonging Consultant, and Stonewall Lesbian Role Model 2020 reminded us of the importance of self-confidence and assertiveness to achieve equality. She made the important point that an interview is the candidate’s opportunity to evaluate an employer. If they are not inclusive, they will not attract or retain staff. She reminded attendees that members of the LGBTQ+ community have so much to offer workplaces: diversity of thought, innovation and crucially, access to members of the community via staff. It is in an organisation’s own interests to be inclusive.
Peter Keenan-Gavaghan’s contribution centred on his experience in his career with Barclay’s Bank in London. Their staff network: Spectrum, has been very supportive of him in practical ways such as offering equal parental leave. Such measures are conducive to retaining the best talent. Peter also noted that most members of Spectrum are allies, rather than LGBTQ+ staff – which is very much a testament to the inclusive culture permeating the organisation.
Indeed, this necessity for supportive allies at work was a common theme from all the speakers. The support of many allies allows for policies to be put in place that embed equality, and for open channels of communication to be established, providing support to colleagues in whatever form they might need it. There was also the reminder again that inclusion is not a one-month issue for Pride – it must remain rooted in our workplaces for everyone’s benefit every day of the year.
This was emphasised by Young Professionals Chair, Daniel Turley, who moderated our Pride event and who welcomed the foundation of the Institute’s LGBTQ+ Committee, which will drive the Institute’s work towards the promotion of greater inclusion.
We are very grateful to all who worked together to make this event a success, and to PeopleSource who supported it. A recording of the event is available to watch here.
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