Product Management | Certified Scrum Product Owner | Award-winning DEI Changemaker | Global LGBTQ+ Corporate Advocate 2023 Award by Out & Equal | OUTstanding 100 Future Leaders Role Model 2023 and 2022
What can leaders and organizations do for the LGBTQ+ community in India feeling disheartened, excluded and discriminated against? 1. Assess the pulse of the LGBTQ+ community within your workplace and create a safe space for them to share their feelings. Set up check-in calls and listen to them without judgements. The people who had to make "the" judgement didn't, why should you? 2. Prioritize mental health support and offer breaks to employees who may find it challenging to come to work due to anxiety, emotional fatigue, and a lack of physical energy. It is very natural feeling and you don't have to experience it to know. 3. Ensure that your workplace fosters a sense of belonging for LGBTQ+ employees, even if they can't experience the same in their country. The time they spend at work can make a significant difference if they included there. 4. Review your LGBTQ+ policies to ensure they're practically applicable and accessible unlike many organisations that use policies solely for employer branding and winning awards. If same-sex couples don't have a legal recognition, it's highly likely they can't avail a lot of benefits either. 5. Avoid superficial displays of allyship and, instead, take visible actions to support the LGBTQ+ community. Use language that accurately conveys the Supreme Court's letdown of the LGBTQ+ community in India and not ask community members to stay strong and patient. 6. Count your privileges and let that fuel the DEI energy and work in your organization.
