A Modern Gay’s Guide launches LGBTQI+ inclusive business certification
Australian LGBTIQ+ lifestyle magazine, A Modern Gay’s Guide, has launched a new LGBTQI+ inclusive business certification and inclusive business directory.
The announcement:
As Sydney’s 2022 LGBTIQ+ pride season begins, A Modern Gay’s Guide, Australia’s largest circulating LGBTIQ+ lifestyle magazine & leading online queer news & events hub, have launched a new nation-wide LGBTIQ+ inclusive business certification, complete with an online ‘Inclusive Business Directory’, to better help the queer community (and its allies) find safe spaces, businesses and brands.
The program officially launches today, Monday 28th of February, and is open to all Australian businesses, with major national and international brands such as MINI Australia, CASETiFY, The Travel Corporation (AAT Kings, Contiki, Trafalgar & more), The Right Fit, Brown-Forman Australia (Jack Daniels, Finlandia Vodka & more), Ampersand Projects, Foundation Australia, JOY Agency, Twenty6forty4, Frenchie, 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 these 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 company-wide declaration, agreeing to 12 LGBTIQ+ inclusive points, which must then be signed and 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 A Modern Gay’s Guide in their LGBTIQ+ charitable initiatives, and to further assist them elevate queer voices through LGBTIQ+ media.
The program keeps certified businesses accountable, with employees of participating businesses able to contact the Modern Gay’s Guide team 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 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 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.”
Global CASETiFY CEO & Co-founder, Wes Ng (he/him) says, “As a global brand, we’re incredibly proud to align with A Modern Gay’s Guide’s LGBTIQ+ inclusive business certification, showing our unwavering support to the community and setting precedent for more companies to follow in our footsteps.”
The Travel Coporation People & Culture Leader, Graeme Riches (he/him) says, “We are delighted to be a foundation partner of such an important initiative. The declaration perfectly aligns with TTC’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles and will guide initiatives to enhance our workplace and empower our LGBTIQ+ employees”
Liz Wigmore, General Manager of Foundation Australia, says, “Foundation is a loud and proud ally of the LGBTQI+ community! We love that A Modern Gay’s Guide has created this initiative to help the queer community (and its allies) find safer spaces, businesses and brands in Australia. We hope everyone who interacts with Foundation – from our people to partners – know they are always accepted and never have to hide who they are.”
Taryn Williams (she/her), CEO of theright.fit says, “We are so proud of the diversity represented in theright.fit community. It’s because of this that we jumped at the opportunity to be associated with the ‘Certified LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Business’ initiative, an ally programme that truly champions inclusivity and ensures that all of our talent, team members and partners feel that they can bring their full & true self to every campaign, job, meeting and everything in-between.”
Amelia Thackway (she/her), General Manager of JOY Agency, says: “We at JOY celebrate and support the LGBTQI+ community today, and every day, so when we heard about the opportunity to even further impact positive change with A Modern Gay’s Guide’s inclusive certification, we knew we had to be a part of it. We greatly value our LGBTQI+ aligned clients, colleagues, friends and allies, and we truly believe that a better world for all is a world we can build together. Because at JOY, everyone lifts everyone.”
Source: A Modern Gay’s Guide media release
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topics
A Modern Gay’s Guide
Amelia Thackway
Graeme Riches
Inclusive Business Directory
Liz Wigmore
Nick Aldrich
Taryn Williams
Wes Ng
