Why Charity Matters in the LGBTQ+ Community
January 13, 2023As part of myGwork’s campaign to focus on and celebrate LGBTQ+ charities and organizations, we recently hosted a panel discussion on how they are creating awareness around a range of important topics such as discrimination, stigma, trauma and HIV/AIDS experienced by the LGBTQ+ community. Speakers from charities and organisations including Trans in the City, the Terrence Higgins Trust, Pride in Education, UK Black Pride, Lloyds Banking Rainbow Network and Diversity Role Models shared more about their work, offering timely advice on how allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community can get involved and offer much-needed support.
You can connect with all of the participants from the LGBTQ+ Charities and Their Work panel via their myGwork page, and you can watch the full panel video here below.
One of the many advantages of running an LGBTQ+ based charity is being able to witness firsthand the progress the community is making. Despite many queer people still experiencing discrimination, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the community makes up a huge proportion of workplace talent and skill, and that companies are finally beginning to recognize and value inclusivity.
“LGBTQ+ people have gone through a lot of trauma,” said Skye Modern, Director for Trans in the City. “We've gone through a lot of hate, anger, and self-disbelief, as well as disbelief from friends and families. And there are consequences. But attracting talent from the queer community is now being recognized. There are a lot of people out there with incredible skills, with incredible passion, to actually change the world, to do something different.”
Laila El-Metoui, founder of Pride in Education, UK Queer Arabs and LEM Education, provided a fascinating insight into the progress of LGBTQ+ discrimination worldwide. Through her platforms, she aims to help specific subsections of the LGBTQ+ feel safe and included, with a particular focus on tackling racism through the means of education. She gave a thought-provoking statistic during the panel, stating that “Of the 69 countries that penalize the LGBTQ+ community, 33 are within the Commonwealth, so there’s something to be said about the legacy of colonialism.”
The importance of representation cannot be understated either, with positive portrayals of LGBTQ+ lifestyles and historic moments pulling focus. “That’s what THT is there to do,” said