Advice: How to be an LGBTQIA+ ally as a manager Written by Matthew Jenkin Wednesday 04 May 2022 Share Share to LinkedIn Share to Facebook Share via email “Allyship is more than just saying, ‘We are pro-LGBTQIA+’”. It’s about active buy-in and a willingness to learn The Everyone Economy Report CMI’s plan for sharing work, opportunity and success The Everyone Economy report has now launched. Download the findings When Anthony Smith-Wells first joined Birmingham tech firm Advanced, he didn’t initially tell anyone he was gay. While he is out, he didn’t feel comfortable being open about his sexuality in the office and there was no support network to turn to. “The gay community doesn't really have a lot in terms of representation in Advanced, especially on the C suite,” explains Anthony, who is the Channel Partner Sales Operations Manager for the company’s Human Capital Management department. “It didn’t feel like a good environment to be open and out – the misogynistic banter from some of the team felt like being back at school sometimes.” So when Advanced asked if there were any minority groups that felt underrepresented in the company in the wake of 2020’s Black Lives Matter protests, Anthony raised his hand. He was aware that there might be others who felt the same as him and he therefore offered to start a group for the LGBTQIA+ community. Team Rainbow offered a safe space for workers to discuss their experiences, anonymously if they wished, and any issues raised could be fed back to management in order to find a solution. Want to learn more? Head to our Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity hub for our latest research and resources on LGBTQIA+ issues in the workplace. Explore now Since the group was founded, it has helped drive a number of policy changes – from working with LGBTQIA+ equality groups, to ensuring its recruitment processes don’t discriminate, to showing support for the community by taking part in the Birmingham Pride parade in September. Keep reading to discover what allyship means and actions you can take to foster it Login or register below for Free Instant Access Login If you are already registered as a CMI Friend, Subscriber or Member, just login to view this article. Confirm your registration Login below to confirm your details and access this article. Sign in with email Email remember me remember Forget? Please confirm that you want to switch off the "Sign in with email" remember me feature. Yes No Register for Free Access Not yet a Member, Subscriber or Friend? Register as a CMI Friend for free, and get access to this and many other exclusive resources, as well as weekly updates straight to your inbox. You have successfully registered As a CMI Friend, you now have access to whole range of CMI Friendship benefits. Please login to the left to confirm your registration and access the article. Advice Looking for advice and guidance? Whether you are looking for topical tips or information, you can find the latest advice and guidance from the CMI team here. Members See More CMI Members have access to thousands of online learning and CPD resources. Learn more about our membership benefits Join The Community CMI offers a variety of flexible membership solutions, tailored to your needs. Find out more and get involved in the CMI community today.
