It's not just an 'all-gender toilet': LGBTQ+ advocacy group calls for workplace inclusion

The community organization ACON recently called on government departments and public institutions to focus on its Pride in Diversity campaign as an all-encompassing not-for-profit employer support program advocating for LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. 

The issue comes into light as the group issued a clarificatory statement regarding articles published by major news site The Daily Telegraph, namely “Woke loos a wee for all” and “ACON is giving advice to Prime Minister’s Office, ABC, government departments, universities, police.” One particular article stated that ACON lobbies for “all-gender toilets.”

However, a closer look at ACON’s campaign reveals that Pride in Diversity is more than just advocating for “all-gender toilets” in the workplace. 

Market demand for Pride in Diversity

ACON maintained that the goal of Pride in Diversity has always been working with employers to ensure a more inclusive workplace for LGTBQ workers and increase awareness among their colleagues.

The community-based organization further said in its statement that Pride in Diversity was created because of several requests from employers seeking assistance in the area to enable uniformity with their international offices and emerging best practices about diversity and inclusion. “Without market demand, Pride in Diversity would not exist,” ACON said.

“Surveys show that 86% of employees at participating organisations felt more productive at work and 81% feel more engaged with their organisation as a direct result of the program,” the organization reported.

ACON noted that its program has already gained substantial support from all workers, LGBTQ+ and otherwise, since its creation. 

“A 2021 Australian Workplace Equality Survey of 45,000 employees found 85% of people supported the work their organisation does for LGBTQ+ inclusion,” ACON said.

“Nearly 60% of respondents said a business’s track record in this aspect of inclusion would positively influence their decision to join the organization,” it added.

The heart of the movement: LGBTQ+ inclusion

Despite several promising advocacies for the LGBTQ+, the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) showed Australia is still far from achieving equality for LGBTQ+ Australians in the workplace, ACON said.

“For example, only 28% of respondents would consider themselves an active ally to LGBTQ+ people, 11% did not feel managers/team leaders would address bullying and 14% of respondents witnessed negative jokes/commentary targeting LGBTQ+ people,” ACON reported.

Studies also revealed a connection between “LGBTQ+ Australians not feeling safe at work” and “the negative mental health outcomes,” according to ACON.

“La Trobe University research from 2020 found 57.2% of more than 6,000 surveyed LGBTQ+ people were experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress, while 41.9% reported thoughts of suicide over the past 12 months,” the organization reported.

Following these alarming figures, ACON emphasized that through its Pride in Diversity program, the community has seen significant shifts in LGBTQ+ inclusion within Australian workplaces, which, in turn, helped enhance the health outcomes for LGBTQ+ employees.

ACON also noted that Pride in Diversity is open to all employers in Australia. However, it is not a public advocacy organization because its responsibility is strictly limited to workplace inclusion.

“Members range from those just starting to implement LGBTQ+ workplace diversity and inclusion initiatives for the first time right through to those that would be considered best practice internationally,” ACON said.