FTSE 100 companies not doing enough to promote their LGBT diversity claims

Research conducted by LGBTI business advocacy group OUTstanding has said that companies listed on the FTSE 100 are not outwardly committed to LGBTI diversity.

The Financial Times Stock Exchange 100 (FTSE 100) is a listing of the 100 companies on the London Stock Exchange with the highest market capitalization.

OUTstanding, which publishes an annual listing of the top LGBT people in business, did a literature review of all the FTSE 100’s 2014 Annual Reports. It says that the companies concerned, although mentioning diversity, are not fully communicating their engagement with LGBT inclusion or offering details.

In particular, many are overlooking transgender employees completely, with 80% of the reports failing to mention non-discrimination policies for transgender staff.

Nearly half (47%) failed to mentioned policies for gay, lesbian or bisexual employees, and of those that did, only 14% went on to outline what these policies were.

At the same time as revealing the findings of its literature review, OUTstanding has also revealed findings from a survey it conducted of 200 LGBT executives in its member companies.

Of these, 62% said that LGBT issues at work have been publically discussed by their CEO, making it the second most discussed diversity issue after gender (reported by 78% of respondents).

Other key findings included 62% of respondents saying that they have a visible LGBT role model in their executive leadership team, but only 39% reporting a role model in the boardroom.

With regard to companies asking about staff diversity, just 47% of respondents said their companies ask LGBT-related questions, compared with 82% reporting measurement on gender, 65% ethnicity and 57% on disability.

Dr Neil Bentley, CEO of OUTstanding, said: ‘Lots of companies are failing to communicate their commitment to supporting LGBT employees at work, particularly to transgender people.

‘With so many businesses facing skills shortages, companies cannot afford to be complacent and should be using every opportunity to tell their story about inclusion to attract and retain the very best talent.

‘From my own experience, I know that there are many enlightened CEOs who value diversity. In fact, 62% of our members say LGBT issues have been publically discussed by their CEO. It’s vital that more businesses – including all those in the FTSE 100 – consider their attitude to LGBT inclusion as an asset, worth reporting.’

Commenting on the research, Emma Cusdin, the co-chair of trans*formation – a networking group for transgender people who work in the financial services industries in the city of London – said: ‘This ground breaking research from OUTstanding clearly demonstrates that the vast majority of our leading companies fail to provide even the most basic protection for trans people at work.

‘In 2015 this is a shocking statistic and a massive call to action for our FTSE 100 companies. Trans people are missing out on jobs and these companies are missing out on talented people.’

Image: Jack Torcello | CreativeCommons.org 2.0

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David Hudson

www.gaystarnews.com/article/ftse-100-companies-not-doing-enough-to-promote-their-lgbt-diversity-claims/

HRC Joins Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene at Amazon.com for Talk on Equality Act

HRC joined Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) in Seattle this week at the Amazon.com campus for a community conversation about the need for Congress to pass the Equality Act.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hrc-joins-leader-nancy-pelosi-congresswoman-suzan-delbene-at-amazon.com-for?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Activists Paint NYC ‘Gay Liberation’ Sculptures Brown to Protest ‘Whitewashing’ of Stonewall Riots: VIDEO

Last week we told you about Stonewall veteran and trans leader Miss Major’s criticism of the upcoming gay rights bio-pic Stonewall directed by Roland Emmerich. Major criticized the trailer for failing to reflect the full diversity that was on display at the 1969 Stonewall riots, exclaiming, “Everybody can’t be white!”

Now two activists have taken Major’s words as a clarion call to arms and decided to paint the famed Christopher Street Gay Liberation sculpture in NYC brown in protest of what they see as the whitewashing of LGBTQ history.

The monument was commissioned by an arts patron in 1980 and sculpted by George Segal who had just completed a commission to commemorate the Kent State shootings. Segal was known for creating bronze works that he often painted white to resemble the plaster molds he created at the outset of his process.

The two activists, though anonymous, identified themselves as “queer and gender non-conforming women in their 20s, one white and one a Latina immigrant, living in Brooklyn” to Auto Straddle. The two also spoke with Auto Straddle about their decision to paint the statues:

AS: Why did you decide to paint and dress the statues?

Those sculptures are supposedly there to commemorate the Stonewall riots, but there isn’t a trace of the actual riots in them. They’re a slap across the face to the Black and Latina trans women who got whacked with batons and shoved into police vans, and still had the guts to continue to lead the fight for LGBTQ liberation. I mean, the people who modeled for the sculptures weren’t even at the riots! That’s just a straight-up insult. It’s also important to note that the Mildred Andrews Fund paid a (presumably) straight and cis white man $90,000 to depict gay people. It’s no wonder that the sculptures are so impassive and tone-deaf.

We painted them because Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Miss Major, Storme DeLarverie and all the other Black and Brown people who led the movement deserve credit for their courage and strength. What we did was rectification, not vandalism. Those statues are bronze (brown) underneath the layer of white paint — the symbolism behind that is infuriating. I know that some people are going to be angry, but I’m not concerned with preserving bullshit art. I’m angry about the whitewashing of LGBTQ history.

AS: Why is it important to you to center trans people and people of color in conversations about queer and trans liberation?

We’ve got to keep talking about the 16 trans women have been murdered this year, and Black Lives Matter, and police brutality, and immigration. And the respectability politics have got to stop! It’s insane that gays booed Sylvia Rivera 42 years ago, and just did the same thing to Jennicet Gutiérrez a few months ago. Voices like hers are the ones that need to be amplified the most. It’s not liberation if it’s not intersectional.

The statues have reportedly already been re-painted to cover the work of the anonymous activists.

.@gaydadproject @autostraddle You’ll be “happy” to know it’s already been whitewashed again. pic.twitter.com/0M4v8ImtB3

— Kenneth M. Walsh (@kenneth212) August 18, 2015

You can read the rest of the interview with the activists HERE.

Watch a video showing the painted statues below:

The post Activists Paint NYC ‘Gay Liberation’ Sculptures Brown to Protest ‘Whitewashing’ of Stonewall Riots: VIDEO appeared first on Towleroad.

Sean Mandell

Activists Paint NYC ‘Gay Liberation’ Sculptures Brown to Protest ‘Whitewashing’ of Stonewall Riots: VIDEO

Courtney Act – Body Parts (VIDEO)
I love everything about this new track by RuPaul’s Drag Race and Australian Idol finalist, Courtney Act. The song is co-written by Courtney, Sam Sparro and Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters. The oh-so-hot video is choreographed by The Squared Division and though it may evoke memories of Madonna and Kylie — it’s pure Courtney!

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Wells Fargo gives $50,000 to help LGBTI businesses grow and prosper

The National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) has awarded 11 grants, totaling $50,000 (€45,350), to some of its affiliate LGBT chambers of commerce.

The grants have been funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation, and – according to a statement – will be spent on programs that ‘foster the development, growth, and sustainability of certified LGBT businesses enterprises.’

NGLCC affiliate chambers applied for grants ranging between $2,500-$10,000 (€2,267- €9,070).

The announcement came at the end of NGLCC’s annual International Business and Leadership Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, last week.

‘We are incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with Wells Fargo. They have been an incredible supporter of our programs and initiatives and I am proud to bring this opportunity to our affiliate chambers,’ said Justin Nelson, NGLCC Co-Founder & President, in a statement.

‘Wells Fargo has been with us from the beginning and their commitment to helping the LGBT business community is underscored by this exciting grant program.’

‘Wells Fargo has a rich history of supporting diverse chambers of commerce, and we share their commitment to helping small business owners succeed financially,’ said Lisa Stevens, Regional Marketing, Small Business and Pacific Midwest Bank Executive.

‘Through our partnership with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), we are proud to provide funding that will support chamber-led entrepreneur training programs and dedicated resources for education, growth and advancement of diverse business owners in communities across America.’

One of the chambers of commerce to benefit from a grant was the Central Pennsylvania Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

‘The CPGLCC Business Development Program has become a vital resource to our LGBTBE members as they advance their businesses and engage in strategic planning,’ said Harry Young, CPGLCC President, accepting the organization’s grant for $2,500 (€2,267).

‘We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from Wells Fargo and NGLCC which will allow us to expand and enrich our program.’

The other chambers of commerce to benefit from the grants are as follows

• Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
• Golden Gate Business Association
• Greater San Diego Business Association
• Greater Seattle Business Association
• Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
• Nashville LGBT Chamber of Commerce
• North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce
• Quorum
• Rainbow Chamber of Commerce Silicon Valley
• Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Last year, Wells Fargo was ranked the eighth biggest company in the world by Forbes. The bank has approximately 265,000 employees in 36 countries, with around $1.7 trillion (€1.5 trillion) in assets.

It is recognized as a long-time supporter of LGBTI diversity and inclusion. It has consistently scored the top ranking of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for the past 12 years, and has a regular presence at Pride events across the US.

Earlier this year, it won plaudits for an advert (below) featuring a same-sex couple that were adopting a child.

The post Wells Fargo gives $50,000 to help LGBTI businesses grow and prosper appeared first on Gay Star News.

David Hudson

www.gaystarnews.com/article/wells-fargo-gives-50000-to-help-lgbti-businesses-grow-and-prosper/

H&M Brand Launches New Inclusive Campaign with Transgender Models and Crew

This week, a major clothing brand is launching a new transgender-inclusive campaign.
HRC.org

www.hrc.org/blog/entry/hm-brand-launches-new-inclusive-campaign-with-transgender-models-and-crew?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss-feed

Desperate Man Fears His Attraction To Twinks Is “Disgusting,” But Who Has The Real Problem?

Society doesn’t so much as bat an eye when a man — say in his 30s — shows interest in a woman in her early to mid 20s. It’s almost expected that he’ll find a younger woman sexy.

But is there a double standard in the gay community?

The Right has consistently tried to label gay men as deviants, predators, or even pedophiles. Is it possible that some have become overly sensitive in an effort to dispel those horrible accusations?

We got to thinking about this after we came across a Reddit thread in which a gay man in his 30s confesses to debilitating shame because of where his sexual attractions fall.

In his post titled “Is a (older) bear into twinks ‘disgusting?’”, user brtw82 writes, “I know all the mantras. People have preferences, age is just a number and so on. However, I constantly feel like I’m judged and I’ve started to think they are right. Maybe someone in his 30s with a bear look into young looking guys is really disgusting.”

Related: Photos: Foxy Older Gentlemen Remind Us That Age Is Just A Number

He goes on to fill in some key details — he’s attracted primarily to young men in their early-mid 20s, but has met harsh criticism from both gay and straight friends/family.

“A friend told me clearly that my ‘twink fetish’ is ‘disgusting,’ I should stop ‘raping kids’ and I should see a doctor. One of my closest friends (who has two teenage sons) subtly told me that I was not welcomed anymore at his house. My mom never said anything, but she constantly asks if I have found a nice guy of my age to marry and have kids.”

And when he sought refuge in what he thought were like-minded peers, it was hardly any better.

Related: PHOTOS: Daddies & Twinks Battle For Your Affection In A Game Of “Who Would You Rather?”

“I tried to look for new friends in the gay community and I thought I found some in a gay sport team. They were guys around my age and body type (muscle otter/bear). Nice guys to hang out with, but not attractive for me. Again, the honeymoon ended when they found out about my preferences. Some were not really friends and were just trying to get in my pants, so they kept telling me that I should try a ‘real man’ (i.e. them). Others just ‘bullied’ me and told me I was pathetic, that I wanted a sugar-baby, that I had to compensate for my size and so on.”

Now he’s at his wit’s end, and is considering psychiatric help.

Many have chimed in to offer words of reassurance that there is nothing wrong with being into younger guys, so long as it’s legal and consensual.

“That is just wrong,” said one commenter. “Every time you say something like that, a young looking twink who is into bears cries alone into his pillow.”

Related: Six Pro Tips For Being The Best Daddy For Your Boy

And one young man offered this: “I’m a younger guy (24) and I have a preference for older, more experienced guys. You sound like my type, tbh 🙂 There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” adding, “it may be that the word ‘twink’ is what’s setting people off. There’s nothing wrong with saying you like younger men.”

And he might have a point — while many embrace the word ‘twink,’ it does connote ‘childish’ or ‘naive’ to others.

Either way, there is no reason brtw82 should have to experience degrading shame for being into young men — life is way too short for that.

Here’s some of the best advice he received: “Dude you’re thirty, you’re not old. You’re not doing anything a straight bachelor isn’t doing. My 24 year old sister is dating a 46 year old and no one is judging him. Your ‘friends’ sound like judgmental pricks.”

Related: Don’t Mind The (Age) Gap: Seven High Profile May/December Gay Relationships And How They Worked Out

Dan Tracer

feedproxy.google.com/~r/queerty2/~3/DL7T0sLVSNA/desperate-man-fears-his-attraction-to-twinks-is-disgusting-but-who-has-the-real-problem-20150818

Antigay Discrimination Bill Endorsed by Republican National Committee

The legislation, aimed at countering the Supreme Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage, is called the First Amendment Defense Act.

read more

Dawn Ennis

www.advocate.com/marriage-equality/2015/08/18/antigay-discrimination-bill-endorsed-republican-national-committee

Here's How Feminism Could Be Good For Mental Health

Feminism for the win, again. 

In a recent video, YouTube vlogger Ginny McQueen discusses how feminism can have a powerful impact on mental health. “These things seem like they would have nothing to do with each other,” McQueen says, going on to explain how “feminism works towards helping both men and women in the area of mental health.” 

McQueen explains that women are twice as likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety, depression and PTSD. Men, however, make up 82 percent of suicide deaths.

She says that the patriarchy sets up rigid parameters for “what men and women should be.” Pressure to adhere to strict gender roles can exacerbate emotional and mental health issues for some and discourage others from seeking treatment.  

“Women are being diagnosed for their issues because they seek help for those issues,” McQueen says. While women are often shamed for our emotions (see here and here), traditional gender roles assume women to be emotional, while men are taught to be tough. “Women aren’t told to ‘suck it up’ or ‘be a man,'” she says. 

Many men do suffer from depression and anxiety, but may be less likely to seek out help because traditional gender roles tell them they can’t express their feelings. “Feminism is out there trying to make sure everyone gets treated equally, including in areas of mental health,” McQueen says. 

Feminism fights for people of all genders — women, men and trans* — to be treated equally when it comes to any area of life. If our culture made it more acceptable for a person of any gender to seek help, mental health might just improve. 

H/T WifeyTV 

Also on HuffPost: 

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