Tag: INvolve

News channels negatively portray the community

According to new research by INvolve, 73% of the LGBT+ community believe they have witnessed discrimination because of unrealistic and negative media portrayals.

In the survey of 537 respondents, 369 of which identified as LGBT+, 50% report that the news is the platform that showcases the most negative portrayals of the community with 68% reporting unrealistic portrayals of the LGBT+ community. These figures were followed closely by Reality TV (47% and 60%) and TV Dramas (25% and 52%).

The research revealed that the way that the LGBT+ community is represented in media is having ripple effects on ‘real-world’ situations for LGBT+ individuals. Nearly 70% believe that the media affects the way they are perceived in the workplace, 60% within their family and 50% within their social circles. Over half of respondents (53%) believe that these perceptions are negative and only 16% believe they are positive.

It is clear from the study that there is a need for more diverse, realistic, and positive representations of the LGBT+ community within the media but INvolve believes this can only happen if there are powerful role models leading the way in the news media and in workplaces.

The annual OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Model List has launched and it celebrates businesspeople who play a key role in breaking the glass ceiling for LGBT+ individuals in the workplace.  The OUTstanding Role Model Lists, supported by Yahoo Finance UK, is one of three sets of role model lists produced annually by INvolve.

Lex Chan, General Counsel at the Business of Fashion, is named number one of the Future Leaders list. They are named alongside two other British businesspeople, Bruna Gil, Channel Partner Lead at LinkedIn, and Jules Buet, Quantitative Developer at Citi.

Francesca McDonagh, Group Chief Executive Officer for Bank of Ireland Group, Beatriz Martin, UK Chief Executive & Group Treasurer of UBS Group AG, and Caroline Frankum, Global CEO of Kantar, take three spots in the Top Ten Advocates list.

Suki Sandhu OBE, founder and CEO of INvolve, commented:

“Positive role models in business are vital. They blaze a trail for change and inspire others to take action for inclusion.

“They are all working to dismantle systems and smash barriers to progress that can prevent the LGBT+ community from succeeding and thriving both in business and beyond. You can’t be what you can’t see so there is a great need for strong and meaningful role models to be visible in business, across the media and in society.”

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D&I network INvolve last week launched its inaugural Top 10 Black Role Models in the UK list, in partnership with Google.

The list aims to shine a spotlight on business leaders who have made a significant contribution to breaking down barriers within the workplace for black and ethnic minority individuals.

Included in the top 10 were executives whose brief covers diversity and inclusion, with Edleen John, International, Corporate Affairs and Co-Partner for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Director at the Football Association among those featured.

Janet Onyia, Project and Programme Manager at Accenture and the Scotland Lead of the Accenture African Caribbean Network (AACN), was also included.

The rest of those featured came from a range of industries and included Toib Olomowewe, Organisational Development and Learning Manager at Royal Dutch Shell and Leila Thomas, CEO and Founder of Urban Synergy, who has been seconded from the talent team at London Stock Exchange Group.

Making up the remainder of the list were Belton Flournoy, Director of Digital Identity and Security at Protiviti UK, Celia Fraser, Insights and Analytics Lead at Capital Group, Christina Liciaga, Head of Customer and Products for Europe and CIIOM at HSBC, Dominic Carter, Group Chief Commercial Officer at News UK, Roni Savage, Founder and Managing Director of Jomas Associates, and Sengova Kailondo, Senior Associate at Hogan Lovells International LLP.

Alex Okosi, Managing Director of Emerging Markets at Google subsidiary YouTube EMEA, said: “As a company that aims to celebrate the diversity of our employees, customers and users we are delighted to present the first ever EMpower Top 10 UK Black Role Models List and shine a spotlight on some of the amazing black role models who are making an impact across UK business.

“These talented individuals are not just excelling in their own areas of expertise, but are inspiring us all by paving the way forward and leading by example when it comes to creating more inclusive workplaces.”

Suki Sandhu OBE, Founder and CEO of Audeliss and INvolve, added: “I’m delighted that EMpower are partnering with Google for the first time this year to share the Top 10 UK Black Role Models who are actively creating a workplace where black and other ethnic minority individuals have an equal opportunity to thrive.

“We must do more when it comes to driving black inclusion in business. Organisations must step up and hold themselves accountable when it comes to turning well-intentioned aspirations into clear, concrete actions for change.”

Each of the individuals included also appeared on the wider EMpower Ethnic Minority Role Model List, which was launched by INvolve in May.

Photo courtesy of Canva.com

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