As the rainbow flags come down in New York City after the WorldPride and Stonewall 50 celebrations, and as flags go up for pride events in other parts of the world, it’s worth asking: where do we stand on global LGBT rights?
How Multinationals Can Help Advance LGBT Inclusion Around the World
Especially in countries that are hostile to it.
August 15, 2019
Kelly Bowden/Getty Images
Summary.
Multinational companies with pro-LGBT values face a challenge: How to advance LGBT inclusion when it conflicts with local law or culture. Researchers conducted interviews with 30 individuals from Dow, EY, and Microsoft to understand how three major global organizations approached this issue in a variety of countries, from Brazil to Japan to Saudi Arabia. They learned how leaders in these companies move between different models for supporting LGBT people — from simply following local norms, to creating an inclusive environment for their own employees, to advocating for change in the wider society. They found that by cultivating internal pro-LGBT champions and acting with subtlety and creativity, businesses can promote LGBT inclusion — not just in locations where legal protections are robust and social acceptance is high but also and perhaps especially in the many countries that are lagging.