With a New Year, I am pleased to announce that I am part of a small group of individuals to have created a new advocacy organization: The LGBTQ+ Corporate Directors Canada Association. This new non-profit organization is focused on bringing diversity to Canada’s Corporate Governance World through an LGBTQ+ presence.
The Association is the first and only organization of its kind to provide services, support and networking on behalf of LGBTQ+ existing and aspiring Board Members. The Association’s Members include top-tier LGBTQ+ professionals with the skills and expertise to make a difference in the Boardroom. We have affiliated ourselves with The Association of Corporate LGBTQ+ Directors in the U.S. and other organizations in the U.K., Australia, and more.
It is important to have prominent LGBTQ+ individuals in the business community. Board members contribute to their organization’s culture and operating environment. They establish corporate goals, oversee the hiring practices of the organization, monitor the effectiveness of the business, ensure good corporate governance policies are in place, and represent the public face of their organizations. An organization’s Board represent the company’s shareholders and employees, many of whom also identify as LGBTQ+. Having LGBTQ+ Board members shows their inclusion in the organization. It also confirms that one’s sexual preference is not a barrier to either promotion or the ability to participate in the management of the enterprise. The confidence of an out Board member with their sexual preference reveals the honesty of the individual, thereby reflecting the values inherent in the company’s culture. Public disclosure shows leadership by example, an important trait in motivating others within the organization. The presence of the LGBTQ+ community on Corporate Boards helps to advance the efforts for global human rights.
Check out our website, follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter (@LgbtDirectorsCA), sign up on the website for our newsletter, get in touch with us, let us know your interest and support, and stay tuned as we move forward to bring this relevant advocacy work to the table.
