Changing Attitudes Towards the LGBTQ+ Community

Gavin Withers, Head of Talent Acquisition at Canada Life, spoke to myGwork about the value behind bringing your whole self to work. He also describes his experience of the shifting attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community across different industries, through the decades.

What have been your own experiences with regard to attitudes towards LGBT communities in the sector?

I know from personal experience early on in my career that it can be really exhausting to constantly be on your guard, or nervous about whether others know or suspect something about you that you don’t feel comfortable or empowered to share.

I began my career in the 90s, starting out in the Professional Services industry as an HR Coordinator. Everyone was really friendly, but I was not aware of any other ‘out’ gay colleagues in my office. At this point in my life, I just wanted to ‘fit in’ and build my career. I thought that somehow being open about my sexuality would negatively impact my working relationships and reputation. I didn’t feel comfortable or empowered sharing with others at this stage. As a result, I found that early on in my career it felt exhausting to constantly be on my guard and I remember feeling nervous about whether others knew or suspected something about me that I didn’t feel comfortable sharing. Looking back, I regret that somewhat now. It takes just one person to start a movement, and I think that the reality may have been much better than I feared.

I’ve worked across different industries – including Professional Services, Management Consulting and Financial Services – and always in HR and Recruitment. My experiences of attitudes towards LGBTQ+ communities have varied, but overall, I feel as though most companies I’ve worked for have evolved, progressively over time, and many now have great role models to look to for support and inspiration.

I’m really pleased to see that conversations around LGBTQ+ inclusivity continues to build momentum steadily. There’s so much great work being done to advance ambitions in this space, and the engagement I personally receive across the industry and within the organisation around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion continues to inspire me.

How have attitudes evolved in the sector?

I joined the workforce in 1997. Even back then, I was impressed by how open-minded my colleagues around me were. Perhaps I was lucky as I know that wasn’t everyone’s lived experience at that time. However, there wasn’t as much support, the conversation wasn’t as advanced as it is now, and there wasn’t the level of resources available as we see today.

It’s important to mark how far we’ve come, in society and in the Financial Services sector. As a case in point, throughout the month of June, we’ll not only be celebrating PRIDE across Canada Life in the UK, but as part of our global organization to mark our commitment to stand with our LGBT+ colleagues and allies, our customers, and those in the communities in which we operate.