Which is the most gay friendly corporation in the world?

The International Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (IGLCC) is proud to invite all major international corporations to participate in the world premiere of the International Business Equality Index survey that will measure how they are performing internationally in issues related to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community. The Index is a unique tool allowing corporations to draw external comparisons, which illustrate how their competitors are doing as well as internal comparisons that provide a better understanding of their own performance. The deadline for completion of the survey is April 30th 2009 with the results being announced during the International Conference on LGBT Human Rights held during the World Outgames in Copenhagen from July 25th to August 2nd, 2009.

In this challenging time of economic uncertainty, participation in a Index of such broad scope provides the exact edge that corporations might need to be ahead of the curve.

Linda Freimane, Co-chair of ILGA-Europe, the European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) said, “ILGA-Europe sees the launch of this International Business Equality Index as a new milestone in the work towards full equality in employment. This Index sends a signal to international businesses that they have a responsibility to promote diversity and inclusion, and to ensure that LGBT employees have equal access to the same benefits and rights as all other employees. It addresses the need for the inclusion of the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity during diversity training, and also the tackling of LGBT harassment in workplaces which is crucial for LGBT people’s safety in employment.”

The Index provides an excellent and timely opportunity for corporations to be among the first to show their support for the global LGBTI community and benefit from its workforce and economic power. A further direct benefit of participation is the chance for corporations to evaluate and enhance their LGBTI policies and practices.

Martin K.I. Christensen, Co-chair of ILGA-Europe says, “It is important to state that this Index intends to serve as an educational tool as well as a yard stick. The intention is therefore to reward the international corporations that have consistently adopted a positive outlook towards LGBT people’s inclusion and equality, and at the same time use this opportunity to assist companies that may this time score a little lower to perform better in the future. Through this Index we intend to extend our invitation to companies to consult us on improve LGBT inclusion and diversity within their workplaces and beyond.”

For further information please contact:

César Maschmann
Director of Communications and Member Services
International Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
Phone: (514) 287-2888 ext.: 221
cesar.maschmann@iglcc.org

Silvan Agius
Policy & Programmes Officer
ILGA-Europe
Phone : + 32 2 609 54 17
silvan@ilga-europe.org

Notes for editors:

(1) The International Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (IGLCC) was founded in 2006 in Hamburg, Germany and is based in Montréal, Canada. The IGLCC is the world’s leading international LGBT business network. Membership is made up of organizations represented by 17 chambers of commerce and business organizations in 14 countries. The IGLCC connects business leaders local, national and internationally: www.iglcc.org

(2) ILGA-Europe is the European Region of ILGA, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association and works for equality and human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Europe: www.ilga-europe.org