Hamilton Lane’s Post

On October 14, 1979, a march took place in our nation’s capital: the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. Commemorating that march is one of the reasons October was chosen as LGBTQ+ History Month. Throughout October, we honor and celebrate the incredible contributions and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. At CRA, we recognize the importance of creating an inclusive and accepting environment for everyone. As we honor LGBTQ+ History Month, let us reflect on the powerful events that set in motion our march toward equality for all, our progress, and our setbacks since then. It reminds us that despite the inevitable challenges along the way, every action creates ripples of change and paves the way for a more inclusive future. CRA is committed to fostering a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued, and included, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We recognize that allyship, education, and open dialogue are key to creating an environment where diversity thrives, and individuals can bring their whole selves to work. #OutLoudatCRA #LGBTQHistoryMonth #inclusiveworkplace #diversityatwork #LGBTQ #lgbtqhistorymonth2023 #BeAnAlly

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ This week, Azza Essakhi shares a compelling blog post on the importance of Pride from a Millennial perspective, and how we can foster inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community. ⬇️ #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #Inclusion #Diversity #Community 🔗Read our other blog posts here: https://lnkd.in/ecdJyAe8

Are you an ally or part of the LGBTQ+ community working in the built environment? If so, this is for you: EG have launched their LGBTQ+ in real estate 2024 - Attitudes, Actions and Allies survey for this year. The questionnaire plays a valuable role in understanding the progress made in this industry for the LGBTQ+ community. The survey is anonymous so please do share thoughts and views about how our industry is, or isn't changing. #LGBTQ+ #BuiltEnviroment #Surveying #Planning #Property #RealEstate

This June, I reread an article I wrote last year. Unfortunately, we’ve seen MORE legislative harm and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community over the passing year. It reminded me that the structures we create (in any environment) produce behaviors that serve that structure. As business leaders, we must be very intentional about the structures we create. Are we promoting inclusivity and acceptance? Or are we creating an environment that allows for or excuses exclusivity? The private sector can be a powerful channel to demonstrate what we stand for and demand when legislation fails us. 🏳️🌈 https://lnkd.in/eCTpyYvz

🌈 Pride Month is almost here, and it’s a powerful reminder that Pride is not just a celebration, but also a protest. 🌈 Things are not looking great. While some countries made some positive steps towards LGBTQ+ inclusion, the UK continues to fall behind. As a queer femme, I am appalled and outraged by the continuous mistreatment of trans and non-binary people. Looking at hate crime stats but also day to day discrimination things are dire. While we, as workplaces and companies, get our rainbow flags out and prepare for the pride parades we attend, let's not forget to look inward. What do you do for your LGBTQ+ employees and customers all year around? Do you have learning initiatives that go deeper then just a glossy allyship session? Do you have policies and more importantly a culture that rejects all forms of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia? And lastly, how do you know? Working with over 90 clients in the past few years has showed me that most organisations do not have adequate feedback loops and monitoring iniatives. #PrideMonth #LGBTQ #Advocacy #Diversity #Inclusion #ImpactCulture #DEI #workplaceculture

Love these insightful tips from my friend Damon Maassen, CPTD to ensure our Pride month activities are authentic and have lasting impact for LGBTQ+ inclusion all year long. Have a read in the link below!

It’s LGBTQ+ Business Week, and ALL services are discounted for the next 7 days! 💸 From November 27 through December 3, all instant book services are 40% off. That includes all job seeker services + ask-me-anything conversations. Additionally, your organization can save 20% on a consulting engagement if you book a free discovery call this week. All the links you need are in the comments. Be sure to check out the link to the LGBTQ+ Business Week website so you can support other queer and trans business owners. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ #LGBTQBusinessWeek #LGBTQ #LGBTQIA #PeopleStrategy #DEI

🔔 I’m beyond proud to share this fabulous blog post written by my incredible colleague Damon Maassen, CPTD– “Moving Beyond Rainbows: Planning for LGBTQ+ Pride Month and Year-Round Inclusion.”  A lot of recent media pieces about the current state of the DEI industry have advanced overly simplistic takes that fail to acknowledge what we see on the ground every day in our work with clients. While the legal and political landscape has indeed shifted, so too have the workforce’s explicit expectations for safety and support for LBGTQ+ team members, especially given an increase in anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and generational shifts in the labor market. In 2022, 7.6% of the adult population identified as LGBTQ+, representing more than double the rate in 2012*. A main catalyst for this societal change can be attributed to Gen Z. 28% of all Gen Zers report being members of the LGBTQ+ population, and Gen Zers are expected to constitute nearly ⅓ of the labor force by the end of the 2020s.** A similar percentage of LGBTQ+ employees have left their employers because of a lack of support for their sexual and/or gender identity.** So what’s the solution? Damon offers some actionable tips for employers to uplift and amplify LGBTQ+ teammates year-round, through both behavioral and structural initiatives. Behavioral initiatives focus on how team members in an organization interact with and learn from, one another. Structural initiatives involve transforming processes, systems, and tools. A few of my favorite recommendations from his piece include: ❇ Historical Recognition: Take the time to educate employees and stakeholders about the historical milestones, struggles, and achievements of the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Incorporate historical context into Pride Month programming, including discussions, documentaries, guest speakers, or educational resources highlighting key moments in LGBTQ+ history. ❇ Honor LGBTQ+ Trailblazers: Recognize and honor LGBTQ+ trailblazers, leaders, activists, and advocates who have made significant contributions to advancing LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. Host awards ceremonies, panel discussions, or virtual tributes to celebrate their impact and legacy. ❇ Engage in Advocacy: Advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and equality both internally and externally. Stay informed about legislative developments impacting the LGBTQ+ community and actively support initiatives that promote inclusivity and social justice. ❇ Review Policies and Benefits: Evaluate company policies, benefits, and practices to ensure they are inclusive and supportive of LGBTQ+ employees. This includes non-discrimination policies, gender-neutral language, healthcare coverage for transgender individuals, and family leave policies that recognize diverse family structures. Check out the full post below! Sources: *Gallop News (2024): “LGBTQ+ Identification in the US” **Ten Thousand Coffees  (2024): “The State of LGBTQ+ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace in 2024”

As LGBTQ+ Pride Month approaches in June, organizations have an opportunity to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community in meaningful and impactful ways. While changing a company logo to a rainbow during Pride Month is a visible sign of inclusion, it's crucial for organizations to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the year. This is especially important in light of the current legislative landscape, with a staggering 484 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced across the United States, according to the ACLU. These bills underscore the ongoing challenges and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community, making it imperative for organizations to go beyond symbolic gestures and take concrete actions to create inclusive environments. In the first part of my blog post, I share strategies for ensuring that Pride Month celebrations are intersectional, diverse, and historically grounded. I then highlight the importance of ongoing inclusion efforts throughout the year, including strategies for education, policy review, advocacy, and more. Finally, I provide some incredible resources to support these efforts. It is a true privilege and pleasure to be part of the dynamic ModelExpand team. I am grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts on this incredibly important topic. #InclusionMatters #DiversityAndInclusion #LGBTQAllyship #YearRoundPride #InclusiveWorkplace

There are many resources available today both online and in other forms. Find a local organization that works with the LGBTQ+ community and ask “what can I learn?” And then, ask “how can I help?” because YOU are powerful beyond measure to make change happen! #LGBTQ+ #diversity #inclusion #calltoaction #education #openminded