New Nation-Wide LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Business Certification & Online Inclusive Business Directory Launches
As Sydney’s 2022 LGBTIQ+ pride season begins, we’re proud to today launch a new nation-wide LGBTIQ+ inclusive business certification, complete with an online ‘Inclusive Business Directory’, to better help our community and our allies find safer spaces, inclusive businesses and diverse brands.
The program is open to all Australian businesses, with major national and international brands such as MINI Australia, CASETiFY, The Travel Corporation (AAT Kings, Inspiring Journeys, Contiki & more), Accor, The Right Fit, Brown-Forman Australia (Jack Daniels, Finlandia Vodka & more), Ampersand Projects, JOY Agency, Foundation Australia, KMA Consulting Engineers and more, all acting as inclusion & diversity corporate leaders, already on board and supporting the initiative.
The ‘Certified LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Business’ initiative works to recognise LGBTIQ+ inclusive businesses within Australia, offering businesses a way to proudly showcase their LGBTIQ+ inclusive stance, whilst also providing tangible benefit to both the LGBTIQ+ community and the inclusive business itself.
To gain certification, applying businesses must sign a declaration on behalf of the business, agreeing to 12 LGBTIQ+ inclusive points, which must then be shared with all team members within the business. In addition, the applying business must pay a yearly certification fee (tiered to business size), with the funds generated from these fees used to fund the initiative itself, assist us in our LGBTIQ+ charitable initiatives, and to further assist us in elevating queer voices through LGBTIQ+ media.
The program keeps certified businesses accountable, with employees of participating businesses able to contact us if they feel as though the certified business is not in-fact living up to the commitments within the declaration, for A Modern Gay’s Guide to then (anonymously on behalf of the employee) follow up with the certified business to help resolve.
Businesses who fail to live up to the points within the declaration can have their certification revoked at any time, at A Modern Gay’s Guide’s sole discretion.
Aware that many businesses are facing post-covid financial hardship, A Modern Gay’s Guide is also offering alternative certification fee arrangements for businesses unable to afford the certification fee, that still wish to be involved, to ensure the initiative remains accessible to all.
Founder & Managing Editor of A Modern Gay’s Guide, Nick Aldrich (He/him), says:
“I couldn’t be prouder to launch our new ‘Certified LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Business’ initiative and online inclusive business directory.
“As someone who spent many of their younger years in the corporate world closeted and too nervous to be their authentic self, due to the uncertainty in how their sexuality may impact their work-life, this initiative is one very close to my heart – one that has the potential to positively impact hundreds of thousands of queer workers’ lives, right across Australia.”
To find out more on the ‘Certified LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Business’ initiative, or to get involved see here.
To check out the online Inclusive Business Directory, see here.
