We're shining the light on the queer pay gap. With financial inequality being so prevalent in this demographic, we think it's high time to start making some noise about this issue. 📣 Wait, so what exactly is the Queer Pay Gap? 🧐 Similarly to the gender pay gap, studies in the UK suggest that queer colleagues systematically earn less than their colleagues who identify as straight. And the difference is significant.
The current gender pay gap in the UK is 7.4% among full-time employees and 15.5% among all employees in 2020 - so the LGBTQ+ pay gap is even worse than the gender pay gap! The biggest challenge in assessing the LGBTQ+ pay gap is the lack of data, as a lot of companies choose not to assess it. WHAT CAN YOU DO? 💼 Support systems at work More than one third of employees have gone back into the closet in the workplace for fear of discrimination. And for good reason: almost one in five LGBT people were the target of negative comments from colleagues about their orientation. Check to see if your company has an LGBTQ+ and Allies space, and consider joining to help support your LGBTQ+ colleagues and shape your company's policy on inclusion. 👀 Presumptions about personal lives The reality is that queer people have to continue coming out again and again and again. In a McKinsey survey, nearly half of LGBTQ+ respondents reported having to come out at work at least once a week in the past month. Try using gender-neutral language such as “partner” or “spouse” or just “friend” if asking about your colleague's personal life. 🤝 Gender in the workplace To make the conversation around gender lighter (especially for non-binary individuals), try adding your pronouns into your emails or introducing yourself with your pronouns!
Here is a small list of LGBTQ+ charities and organisations that you can support all year around - not just pride month!
🏳️🌈 Mind Out A UK based charity providing mental health services, supporting resilience and wellbeing in LGBTQ+ communities. 🏳️🌈Galop A charity supporting LGBT+ victims/survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crimes and other forms of abuse. 🏳️🌈AKT A charity supporting LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are facing/experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment. 🏳️🌈 UK Black Pride A celebration for LGBTQI+ people of African, Asian, Caribbean, Latin American and Middle Eastern-descent!
KEEP LEARNING
📹 Learn about the importance of crowd-funding for the Queer and Trans community here. 🎧 Podcast episode: Listen to “A history of stonewall, the riot that started the LGBTQ+ revolution”!
💪 Refinery29 have written some great articles on the hidden costs of being LGBTQ+ and on rainbow capitalism and queer joy!