Companies aim to be more inclusive following National Coming Out Day
Monday was National Coming Out Day, a day to raise awareness for individuals with the LGBTQ+ community.
Efforts are being made by employers to make suer their staff and patrons all feel welcomed.
The Pride and Joy Community art exhibition is front and centre this month at the Art Gallery of Windsor.
“We have a digital display as well as actual objects in the room,” says Derrick Biso.
It features over 70 works of art, from 50 artists.
“Sort of this expression, right, of the cultural changes that are happening at the institution where we are building spaces particularly for members of our community,” says Biso.
Thanks with help from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Art Gallery has added new programs and initiatives in an effort to become more inclusive, for little to no cost.
“Like washroom signage that is inclusive to all genders and making sure that we use our pronouns,” says Jennifer Matotek, executive director.
“Adding our pronouns to our emails to our business cards so things like is small cost but it means a lot to people.”
Abbey Lee Hallet works at the gallery and identifies with the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
“I just kind of walked in everything was just so immediately welcoming”
Hallet believes employees can be more creative and passionate when employers offer a more inclusive environment.
“People don’t feel like they have to hold their ideas or there selves back.”
Christa Duvall of PFLAG London believes companies need to have non-discrimination policies so employees can feel comfortable coming out in the workplace.
“If you are trans, it’s very hard to come out in the workplace. More and more companies have policies in place to protect workers. More and more companies are doing things to celebrate diversity in the workplace.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.