The celebration of Pride Month may be seen by some sceptics as "pinkwashing", but it is often the start of a long and arduous journey toward building a truly inclusive organisation
We are celebrating Pride Month with sporadic initiatives by organisations to demonstrate their inclusive behaviours. The community forms a significant portion of our population. The 1948 study by Alfred Kinsey in the US, which suggested that 10 percent of males were gay, was challenged by researchers then. However, obtaining accurate data on gender and sexual identities remains a challenge. A study by Ipsos[1], a global market research agency, shows an increasing trend of Gen-Z members acknowledging their LGBTIQA+ affiliations, with over 18 percent stating them. In comparison, 14 percent are not willing to commit to their status. Today, there are an estimated 45.4 million members of the LGBTIQA+ population in India. Due to their inability to openly own their identity or due to discrimination or persecution, this estimated population is at a higher risk of developing a variety of physical and mental health conditions.
[This article has been published with permission from IIM Bangalore. www.iimb.ac.in Views expressed are personal.]