A 2014 study by the Human Rights Campaign found that53 percent of LGBT individualsremain closeted at work.
How do we change this dynamic?
If you want to be a better straight ally at work, here are my suggestions.
Offer your pronouns when you introduce yourself at meetings or mixers and include them on social media profiles.
)that you automatically identify in a particular way.
It still feels awkward, because outside of LGBTQ spaces, its not a common thing to ask.
Use Gender-Neutral Greetings
Gendered greetings are deeply ingrained in the U.S.
Even in the office or at conferences, I get used to hearing, Hey lady!
Some people love receiving these greetings (I do), because it helps them feel seen.
Instead, get comfortable calling someone by their name or not using a greeting at all.
If greetings are really your thing, consider using a term like friend instead.
Educate Yourself on LGBTQ Issues
Did you know that over100 anti-LGBTQ billswere introduced in 2017?
Now the genie is out of the bottle.
No wonder then that minorities fear for their future, their professional opportunities and self-fulfillment.
Individuals may also be facing bias or discrimination within your organization.
Read up on your companys benefit packages.
Does it offer equal benefits for same-sex spouses or provide health coverage for those going through a gender transition?
This is up from just nine percent of businesses in 2010.
Still, that leaves over a quarter of reported businesses not providing adequate coverage for transgender individuals.
When you hear unacceptable jokes or conversations, call people out on it directly or talk to HR.
And transgender individuals are often asked inappropriate questions about their gender or transition process.
If you sense a conversation is making someone uncomfortable, help them out by changing the subject.
Nominate or invite LGBTQ individuals to participate on teams that directly impact the workplace.
But an invitation is not enough.
The next step is to ensure that everyone feels comfortable speaking up.
For LGBTQ individuals, speaking up equates to being more loudly out.
These could be inclusive affirmations from their colleagues, company-wide announcements, etc.
This emphasizes how high of a risk coming out really is for individuals, Gallien said.
