Certified LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Business Initiative
THE
WHO
We’re Australia’s largest circulating LGBTQIA+ print magazine and an internationally read online queer news and events hub.
We’re the team behind some of Australia’s most loved queer events and key supporters behind a number of Australia’s largest LGBTQIA+ charitable organisations.
We’re the proven authority on all things queer culture and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity across Australia.
We are A Modern Gay’s Guide.
THE
WHAT
The ‘Certified LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Business’ initiative is a nationwide program that works to recognise LGBTQIA+ inclusive businesses right across Australia.
The program offers inclusive businesses a way to proudly showcase their LGBTQIA+ inclusive stance, whilst also providing tangible benefit to both the LGBTQIA+ community and the inclusive business itself.
Arguably the most beneficial part of the initiative, is that it allows employees of certified businesses to anonymously report instances of homophobia and gender related issues in their workplace to the Modern Gay’s Guide team, for A Modern Gay’s Guide to then work with the certified business to discreetly resolve, allowing employees to speak up without fear of any repercussion, and as such, allowing the certified business to strengthen its year-round commitment to inclusion and diversity.
In addition, the program keeps certified businesses accountable and provides clarity to the LGBTQIA+ community on safe spaces, environments, brands and businesses – ultimately helping the queer community to establish where to stay and where to stray.
THE
BENEFITS
Becoming a certified LGBTQIA+ inclusive business comes with an array of tangible benefits, including:
DOCUMENTED CORPORATE INCLUSION & BRAND PROTECTION
–In becoming certified, your organisation is publicly recognised as an LGBTQIA+ inclusive business. Your business’ certification fee is then also directly used to support the LGBTQIA+ community, ensuring that your business is undeniably a corporate ally and recognised as such.
BRAND EXPOSURE
-All certified LGBTQIA+ inclusive businesses are added to our online ‘Australian Inclusive Businesses’ database, for current & potential customers and/or key stakeholders to discover and note.
–Certified businesses will also have their logo added to a ‘Modern Gay’s Guide Supporters’ page both online and in the print magazine each month.
DIGITAL ASSETS
–Once certified, your business will be given an ‘LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Business’ digital asset pack, inclusive of logos, social media tiles, title rights, copy suggestions and an (optional) one-to-one with the Modern Gay’s Guide team to discuss how best to leverage and communicate your certification within your business.
CORPORATE COMMS OPPORTUNITIES
–Certifying your organisation is a strong external communications hook, with a multitude of consumer messaging opportunities across social, eDM, web, point of sale and more.
POSITIVE BRAND SENTIMENT
–With recent research indicating that upwards of 90% of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies actively work to support businesses that visibly support the LGBTQIA+ community, whilst simultaneously avoiding businesses that they believe to be ‘anti-gay’*, certifying your business as LGBTQIA+ inclusive instils consumer confidence in your organisation.
STAFF ENGAGEMENT
–Becoming a certified LGBTQIA+ business is something that your LGBTQIA+ invested team members are going to care about, not to mention, be a key consideration for potential top-tier LGBTQIA+ employee talent.
DEI/CSR REPORTING
–In certifying your business as LGBTQIA+ inclusive, you’re able to attribute your certification fee directly toward your ESG/CSR and diversity reporting.
The program offers inclusive businesses a way to proudly showcase their LGBTQIA+ inclusive stance, whilst also providing tangible benefit to both the LGBTQIA+ community and the inclusive business itself.
In addition, the program keeps certified businesses accountable and provides clarity to the LGBTQIA+ community on safe spaces, environments, brands and businesses – ultimately helping the queer community to establish where to stay and where to stray.
A FEW
ALREADY INVOLVED
THE
CERTIFICATION FEE
Certification fees cover our administration and running costs, as well as help to support us in our LGBTQIA+ charity efforts (alike supporting Australia’s largest youth charity, ‘Wear It Purple’) and help us to give a media voice to Australia’s queer community.
THE
HOW
Becoming a certified ‘LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Business’ is quick and easy:
1.Download the ‘Certified LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Business Declaration’ form from the Modern Gay’s Guide website, here.
2.Make payment via the online portal, here:
LOCAL BUSINESS | SMALL/MEDIUM ENTERPRISE | LARGE ENTERPRISE
3.Return your completed ‘Certified LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Business Declaration’ form to [email protected]
4.Within 3 business days the Modern Gay’s Guide team will process your application, uploading your business to our ‘National LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Business Directory’,adding your logo to the ‘Modern Gay’s Guide’ supporter page and sending you your digital asset and communications pack.
The program is open to all registered businesses, of all sizes.
