Representation Matters

Across the board, representation matters.

It matters in the media we consume, the individuals we spotlight and celebrate, the research and insights that inform policy decisions and strategy, the workplaces we create, and the communities we build.

Representation is powerful. It ensures that, as a collective community, we move forward together. It reinforces that nothing is out of reach. It creates cultures of belonging where all individuals can thrive.

And with the Out & Equal Workplace Summit less than a week away, we are reminded that representation fosters innovation, drives bold ideas and thinking, and creates unstoppable movements.

Spotlight: Research & Initiatives Advancing Representation & Inclusion

Visual language and representation matters. It’s why we partnered with the Noun Project and other notable partners to launch a new collection of 30 icons dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community called, The Pride Icon Collection.

“The LGBTQ+ community is a diverse, multicultural community, but this is often not how we see the community reflected or portrayed in media. When representation is limited, it becomes “normal” to think you must present—act, dress, or look—a certain way to be representative of, and/or welcomed into a group and treated equitably. When greater, more diverse representation of the community is present and visible, the pressure to assimilate, hide, or cover aspects of one’s uniqueness is lessened, and the courage and confidence to be one’s more authentic self increases.”

—Michael J. Chamberlain (he/him), Chief Marketing Officer, Out & Equal

In partnership with Windō, Out & Equal released a report examining why transparency on LGBTQ+ Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) efforts matter from a talent attraction and retention perspective.

Through this research, Windo tracks 13 notable LGBTQ+ Awards, Indices, and Recognitions, which align with Out & Equal’s vision of global workplaces where all people are equal, belong, and thrive.

LGBTQ+ Financial Wellness

* As a leading information services company, some of Experian’s chief priorities include protecting and ensuring the accuracy of consumer information. The integrity of our data is critical and aligns with efforts to advocate for financial inclusion for everyone.

Announcing the Launch of The Global Hub 3.0!

Out & Equal is proud to launch version 3.0 of The Global Hub at the upcoming Workplace Summit, featuring a fresh new look, enhanced functionality, and more content and content features.

The Global Hub, available exclusively to Out & Equal Partner organizations, is the only resource of its kind developed to support internal change agents working in DEI, HR, and ERG leadership in their efforts to ensure progress toward workplace inclusion and belonging for LGBTQ+ talent.

At Out & Equal, we’re proud to acknowledge and celebrate the following:

Bi+ Visibility Week (September 16-September 23) & Bi+ Visibility Day (September 23): Out & Equal’s Bi+ Visibility in the Workplace Resource helps fill in the gaps in information around Bi+ identities in the workplace and provides tangible action items for employers and individuals. 

And, during our Workplace Summit, we will be releasing additional resources in this space.

Latinx Heritage Month begins on Friday, September 15: The LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith, and as we acknowledge and celebrate Latinx History Month, it’s important we take an intersectional lens in our approach to representation, inclusion, and equity. Only when we acknowledge the unique experiences of the most historically marginalized and/or overlooked individuals and communities, can we truly advance equity for all.

To learn more about intersectionality in the workplace, check out the content and videos within the featured sessions highlighted in Out & Equal’s, "Practitioners for Change: Intersectionality Learning Series Resources.”