#OutOnLinkedIn with #UKBlackPride
Research from Harvard Business Review shows that people who feel comfortable enough to be themselves at work, are more satisfied and enthusiastic about their job.
Unfortunately, many people around the world, particularly people of colour, still feel like they can’t openly identify themselves as a member of the lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer community without jeopardizing their employment or their safety.
Understanding the particular intersection of race and sexuality is important to foster a deeper understanding of the specific life experiences of LGBTQ+ people of colour. Throughout the month of June, UK Black Pride and LinkedIn are collaborating to provide a platform to examine what it means to be an LGBTQ+ person of colour at work. And so for those who feel safe sharing their stories, we’d love to hear from you.
For example: + Have you seen or felt any benefits or disadvantages since coming out at work? For example, has coming out at work helped you be yourself at work or improved your confidence and therefore performance? Maybe you were promoted? + On the flipside, do you have examples of discrimination you’ve faced at work? + Would you have any tips or advice for anyone looking to come out at work for the first time or after starting a new job? + How can employers improve their workplace for LGBTQ+ employees? Is your employer leading the way in creating an inclusive environment? If so, what are they doing that really makes a difference? For those who’d like to take part, publish a post, article or video to your LinkedIn profile explaining your experiences as an LGBTQ+ person of colour at work.
Our hope is that by amplifying our experiences, we can create a climate of understanding, compassion and alliance to ensure workplaces are inclusive and spaces for us all.
Be sure to include both #OutOnLinkedIn and #UKBlackPride. For those who are not out at work and would like to share with us their experiences anonymously, please email anick@ukblackpride.org.uk *We also ask that you don’t explicitly mention specific companies and/or names when describing your experiences at work.