London – LGBTQ professionals in Britain still feel pressured to minimize their identity at work, and some change their appearance, voice or behavior to avoid discrimination or be taken seriously, according to a new report on Thursday.
The pride in leadership, a network of LGBTQ business leaders, requested stronger rights to protect the members of the community and urged companies to do more to eliminate homophobia and transphobia disguised as “jokes.”
The non -profit organization, which surveyed 1,000 LGBTQ professionals between June and November last year in their first report, said that 85% of respondents found professional obstacles due to their identity.
He discovered that 34% of respondents said that their identity negatively affected their previous education, and some still feel they have to “be less gay” after being encouraged to suppress their sexuality when they were younger.
More than half said it influenced their career options, which led them to avoid certain sectors or roles due to fear of discrimination or lack of support.
“This research reflects what I have seen as a gay leader,” said Matt Haworth, co -founder of Pride in Leadership. “From homophobia at meetings to being invited to commercial missions to a country where it could be sentenced to death just because it is me … the playing field is far from leveling.”
Haworth added: “Everyone deserves a fair opportunity to succeed, regardless of who they love or how they identify.”
Official 2021 census data showed that around 1.5 million people in England and Wales identified themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or other sexual orientation orientation.
