<aside> đź“– Try Catch Essentials: Diversity in Tech 1. Introduction of Scale 2. Diversity Workplace Reports 3. Diversity in VC Funding 4. How Diversity Affects the Bottom Line 5. Women in the Workplace 6. Inclusive Leadership 7. True Gender Inclusion in Tech 8. LBGTQ+ Inclusion in Tech Conclusion & Acknowledgements
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It is important to start off that in researching this issue for this series, finding an essential read was difficult.
As these articles articulate, and evidenced by our search for coverage, LBGTQ+ has taken a backseat in the Diversity & Inclusion spotlights in the mainstream.
Both of the articles linked at least 5 years old - as in, nothing profound has been covered by prominent media or new research has been documented focussing on this issue demographic.
We combed through dozens of sources, and while many discussed micro-topics such as algorithmic discrimination, no one piece was to the standard that Try Catch Essentials defines.
Perhaps this can serve as a call for renewed interest in the documentation of LBGTQ+ experiences in the industry.
Both of the articles below feature outdated statistics, which is interesting to compare to the current “Diversity Reports” we shared in 2. Diversity Workplace Reports - so pay less attention to the numbers provided and more to the cultural reflections on tech companies.
Perhaps we really missed out in our research - if our readers know of sources with relevant, empirical information regarding LBGTQ+ inclusion in the tech - please share: send an email to [email protected].
Looking back at this article from 2014, it appears to be rosy-eyed nostalgia considering the waves of walk-outs and harsh criticism from tech’s workforce, however it keeps its head on straight by referencing the biggest driving factor in so-called inclusion by tech industries - the Pink Dollar.
Rakesh Sharma writes:
But, the most important reason for the tech sector’s embrace of gay rights is pure economics. The power of the pink dollar is already well-known. Within the tech economy, however, that dollar goes even further because gays are prominent customers and creators in the economy. Tech titans’ support for gay rights has generated enormous goodwill and free marketing for their products among gay communities.
The article quotes an interview that in reference to diversity and inclusion in sexuality in the workplace “…office culture in startups and major organizations in tech companies is still dictated by heteronormative stereotypes.”
This topic could definitely benefit from a 2020 refresh and more than just reporting on a news item.
The Gays And The Tech Industry: An Inclusive Yet Complicated Relationship
A bit more recent, but is immediately dated by its reference to the 2016 Diversity Workplace Reports, the article focusses on the issue that: