Beyond the L: Differences in Workplace Experiences of LGBTQ Women

Sapphire is an initiative of Pride in Diversity that was developed to generate greater awareness of the unique challenges faced by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) people who identify or may be perceived as women in the workplace. This includes cisgender women, transgender women, and non-binary people who may be perceived as female or feminine (regardless of their gender identities) and therefore may face many of the same challenges.

This initiative seeks to engage with and provide this cohort with an opportunity to openly express and discuss some of these challenges in a safe, non-confrontational and professional environment, with the aim of creating a more inclusive workplace – one in which LGBTQ women and non-binary people can freely be themselves, and one in which there is a greater visibility of “out” role models.

Each year in Pride in Diversity’s AWEI employee survey, we see that LGBTQ women are less likely to be out than LGBTQ men. But that’s not the whole story. When we break down the cohort and examine the difference in responses from lesbian and gay people who are or may be perceived as women to bi, ace and trans people who are or may be perceived as women we can see that there is a very different experience being had.

This year, Sapphire will be hearing from those people who are often invisible in the discussion around inclusion for LGBTQ people who are or may be perceived as women, and how taking a one-size-fits-all approach will continue to exclude a lot of people.

Register Here