Ashley Vega 0:05
GLBT LGB LGBTQ, LGBTQIA. All these acronyms sometimes playfully referred to as alphabet soup, mean far more than solely being gay. The LGBTQIA+ community is not a monolith. And with over 11 million people in the US who identify as LGBTQ, no two experiences or viewpoints are going to be the same. In fact, as more non gender binary groups continue to speak up, share their stories, and become recognized. The only community in which they've historically been able to seek asylum has been under the umbrella of LGBTQ issues. That is why we've seen the acronym expand rapidly over the decades. But the key to solving the discriminatory mindsets and behaviors facing the LGBTQ community is the same way we solve discrimination in every dimension of diversity. By understanding the humans in these communities. Individuals who fall outside of traditional Western gender and sexual identity do not always have the same acceptance or validation of their identities granted, for example, gendered bathroom bans, marriage equality, or workplace protections, even though LGBTQ individuals represent over 9.5 million of the workforce. These mal-alignments can lead to anything from discomforting communication, alienation in and out of the office, and even violence and abuse. Like in all marginalized groups, we want to know the people behind the group and why these groups and identifiers are important to recognize, especially when it comes to human rights and personal safety.

Our goal in this module is to familiarize everyone with individuals and identities that are lesser known in our society. We want to demystify these increasingly common identities and foster an environment that is not only safer, but inclusive and welcoming for others to share who they are. Sometimes all it takes is digging a little deeper and truly listening when someone shares their story, especially when someone's background or culture is different to our own. You don't have to identify with any of these groups in order to support the LGBTQIA+ communities, but doing the work to become an ally is on you. Part of that support comes from knowing someone like your co-workers, but there is so much more to be done. That diversity LGBTQ members bring to your company leads to stronger, healthier teams with more competitive skill sets, and brings a unique perspective that creates better solutions for our ever changing global workspace. Protecting and encouraging that diversity means foundationally understanding who we are, where we're coming from, and realizing that we're all just here trying to make it in this crazy thing called life.