I lost my job after coming out. I don’t want anyone else to experience that

“I was so shocked at the time that I didn’t really react,” says workplace inclusivity advocate Lou Beardsmore, who recalls losing her job after taking her partner to a company party.

Lou, who identifies as queer, told PinkNews that the “shocking” moment happened when she had been working at an Edinburgh-based investment firm for nearly two years. She was the only one outside with a few members of her team.

The problem started when she decided to take her partner to a Christmas work party. “I thought we had a wonderful time and everyone was so welcoming and supportive,” she said. But the next morning, she was met at reception by a woman from human resources who told her that “senior management” felt she “did not share the same family values.”

She lost her job on the spot and was put on gardening leave for three months.

40 per cent of LGBTQ+ people in the UK don’t go out to work

When she left the building, she started crying. To make matters worse, no one at work contacted her again.

“I worked hard at that job and was very good at what I did. I won awards, but that didn’t protect me from discrimination or homophobia.”

Lou’s experience reflects the reality that many people never come out in the workplace. A report published by Stonewall in January revealed that almost 40 per cent of LGBTQ+ men and women in the UK remain hidden in the workplace due to “fear of discrimination”.

After the incident, Lu turned to charity work. Three years ago, she and her partner Ellis founded a social enterprise. A proud futureprovides LGBTQ+ leadership training and wellbeing programs to help organizations build inclusive cultures where queer people can thrive.

Together they hosted Scotland’s first LGBTQ+ leadership conference. lead with pride. The first event, scheduled to be held in Glasgow next month, will cover themes including workplace bullying, hate crimes and the rollback of LGBTQ+ rights. Lu said the aim is to show organizations what actions need to be taken to create inclusive workplaces where LGBTQ+ people are not only safe, but can thrive and succeed.

In May, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map & Index reveals UK has fallen to 22nd place It took the top spot in Europe’s LGBTQ+ safety ranking just 10 years ago. The report highlighted that more than half of LGBTQ+ people do not feel safe coming out at work and that hate crimes are on the rise.

EHRC guidance branded ‘inhumane’

In April, Britain’s LGBTQ+ community was dealt a further blow, with the Supreme Court ruling that the Equality Act 2010’s definition of “sex” refers to “biological sex” and the definition of “woman” relates to “biological women.” This was followed by proposed changes to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s Code of Conduct.

The changes are likely to “result in the exclusion and isolation of transgender people from public life for a generation.” [and] “By imposing a radical new approach on British society, the gender assigned at birth will become the fundamental organizing principle for our lives,” predicted Jane Fay, transgender journalist and director of Transactuaries.

Lu described the possible guidance as “devastating” and added that it would be “inhumane” for people’s basic needs not to be met. “It’s up to organizations to take action to counter what’s happening,” she says.

Feeling safe at work, she continued, means not having to be constantly hyper-vigilant or mindful of pronouns, and feeling comfortable talking openly about who you are, including sharing comments about your family.

Turning to the idea of ​​”exercising leadership with pride,” she said: [that] This is a story of the past. ”

More than 20 speakers are expected to attend the event, including Xander Murray, Scotland’s first openly gay professional footballer. i kissed a boy Starring Jack and Jas, non-binary lawyer Oscar Davies.

Tickets for “Leading with Pride” can be purchased below. event bright.

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