GLAAD and the Ariadne Getty Foundation Call for Leading Brands to Take Action with LGBTI Panels featuring Global CEOs during World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Rich Ferraro,
GLAAD, Chief Communications Officer, rferraro@glaad.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Davos, Switzerland, 22 January 2019 - GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer media advocacy organization today applauded the launch of the ‘Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality’ project during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland. GLAAD and the Ariadne Getty Foundation are also leading several events dedicated to LGBTI acceptance throughout the global convening this week.
Announced during an official World Economic Forum (WEF) press conference today in Davos, the ‘Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality’ is a coalition of organizations committed to leveraging their individual and collective advocacy to accelerate global LGBTI equality and inclusion and drive positive change. It was founded by seven WEF Strategic Partner companies: Accenture, Deutsche Bank, EY, Mastercard, Microsoft, Omnicom Group and Salesforce.
“Global companies played critical roles in many of the most significant LGBTI victories including last year’s historic ruling that decriminalized being LGBTI in India, and today’s historic announcement has the potential to change the game for LGBTI people all over, including countries where LGBTI acceptance is beginning to move forward,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Over 200 companies have expressed support for The UN Standards, but support is merely a first step. Global brands should now take action, create inclusive workplaces, and leverage their economic impact to move policymakers and cultural leaders to accept and protect all people, including LGBTI individuals. With countries including Kenya poised for decriminalization, the opportunity is real and urgent.”
To help business leaders realize LGBTI equality and inclusion for their global workforces, the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality will operationalize the United Nations LGBTI Standards of Conduct. By 2020, the project aims to:
Enlist 50-100 companies from World Economic Forum members and beyond to join the Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality to implement UN LGBTI Standards.
Create a due-diligence framework for corporations to use in assessing the alignment of their policies with the Standards and to better understand the practical impact of their policies on LGBTI people.
Develop a repository of LGBTI best practices and case studies from companies across multiple sectors, sharing insights and information on effective strategies, policies and processes for gathering the information needed to ensure LGBTI people are not being discriminated against when it comes to hiring, retaining and promoting employees.
Encourage new cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaborations.
“Davos is a convening of the masters of the universe and for too long LGBTI people and issues have been relegated to the sidelines,” said Ariadne Getty. “This year is a milestone for LGBTI inclusion and we look forward to witnessing the far-reaching impact which results from the global companies and philanthropic groups that are stepping up in new and powerful ways.”
GLAAD and The Ariadne Getty Foundation are on-the-ground in Davos during this historic announcement with a series of LGBTI panels, events, and working sessions focused on enlisting new advocates for global LGBTI acceptance.
GLAAD and AGF will host a panel and lunch discussion on Thursday, 25 January. The panel, ‘Making Equality Equal: The Next Move Forward for LGBTI Rights’ will feature moderator Richard Quest of CNN International as well as panelists: Jim Fitterling, CEO, Dow; Dr. Vas Narasimhan, CEO, Novartis; Shamina Singh, President, Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth; and Krishna Omkar, Senior Associate, King & Spalding. Omkar will share insights into his work alongside fellow advocates which resulted in the historic 2018 ruling to decriminalize being LGBTI in India. Ariadne Getty will also update the audience on the $15 million pledge from her foundation to launch the GLAAD Media Institute, a training program for LGBTI advocates and allies. The pledge, the largest in GLAAD’s history, was announced in Davos last year.
GLAAD and The Ariadne Getty Foundation have also partnered with WEF’s Young Global Leaders LGBTI Allies Group for a working session aimed at increasing LGBTI visibility during Davos and within WEF.
Additional LGBTI events during the Annual Meeting this year include the 5th annual LGBTI Inclusion Breakfast hosted by Accenture.
Prior to the WEF press conference on Tuesday, GLAAD’s President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and Ariadne Getty, the President and Executive Director of The Ariadne Getty Foundation, appeared on a panel in the Equality Lounge, hosted by the Female Quotient. The panel featured Aria Finger, CEO of DoSomething.org and God-is Rivera, Twitter’s Global Director of Culture & Community, in a discussion of ‘Intersectionality: How women’s rights, racial justice, LGBTI, and other social justice movements are working together in the current global cultural climate’ moderated by Hayley Romer, Publisher of the Atlantic.
About GLAAD:
GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBTI acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.