Tech companies have trumped the international private sector, taking out four of the top five places as the most LGBT-friendly corporations in the world.
In June, the International Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (IGLCC) unveiled the second International Business Equality Index at their Annual Congress in Amsterdam.
IBM, Google, BT, Morgan Stanley and Cisco systems were awarded with the top accolades – Morgan Stanley, the only business outside of the technology/communications industry.
25 corporations from 220 countries participated in a survey which found the highest ranking industries, communication and technology services, were at the peak of the index rivalled only by commercial services.
Chair of the IGLCC Index Committee David Pollard said tech and communications companies were naturally more attuned to changes in society but also had a more adaptable corporate culture.
He said the index was a measure of how satisfied LGBT employees and customers were with a company as well as non-LGBT people who supported equality.
‘The International Business Equality Index is a rigorous, online survey of 17 questions that corporations fill out themselves, and which takes into account their global activities,’ Pollard said.
IBM won out the survey as the most progressive organisation towards LGBT equality.
IBM Australia Vice President Mark Latchford said diversity and inclusion had been a cornerstone of their business since it began in 1935, with LGBT workplace policies in place for the past 25 years.
‘As a leader in the technology industry, one of the key reasons for IBM’s success is the diversity of our workforce,’ Latchford said.
‘Our mandate is to create a planet where things, people, and systems all work, talk, listen and understand each other,’
‘Diversity at IBM is a no-brainer,’ Latchford said.
Since 2007, IBM had sponsored over 200 volunteers at the annual Midsumma Festival in Melbourne.
While the index found that overall community involvement fell abysmally, there were great gains in the remaining criteria such as LGBT marketing, policies and inclusiveness.
Following closely in second place on the Index was Google, coming as no surprise to anyone aware of Gayglers – the term given to LGBT employees of the software giant.
With groups of Gayglers scattered across the globe, Google was an open supporter of Gay Pride and Mardi Gras.
Google Australia spokesperson Lucinda Barlow said it was fantastic to be recognised for supporting LGBT employees.
‘In support of our gay and lesbian employees, we take a public stand on issues that are important to our community such as Transgender Remembrance Day and objecting to Proposition 8 in California,’ Barlow said.
‘We hope our benefits improve the quality of life of our LGBT employees and help to continue to attract top talent.’
While the needs of LGBT employees remain a critical factor to the index, it also examined the significance of the rapidly expanding market that the homosexual and transgender community provide for business.
In general, the pink dollar translated into big bucks in Australia with 2008 estimates suggesting the gay/lesbian community contributed around $61 billion AUD annually to the national economy.
Benn Dorrington
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