As the world marks International Pride Month, many LGBTQIA+ people in South Africa still don’t feel safe or supported in the corporate environment. They say they continue to experience sexual discrimination.

These sentiments were shared by Iranti, a human rights organisation focusing on LGBTQIA+ and intersex persons’ rights.

The organisation further added that most LGBTQIA+ employees end up being forced to hide their true identity to keep their job and avoid discrimination in the workplace.

Matlhogonolo Samsam from Iranti says, “When we talk about creating inclusive workspaces for LGBTQIA+ people, we must go beyond surface level and gestures. It’s not just about being seen but it’s about feeling safe, valued and supported without feeling the need to dilute who we are, or the need to make ourselves more palatable in order to fit in.

Companies are required to have more than policies on paper, they need to have real protection against discrimination, affirming pronouns, gender neutral facilities, health benefits that include queer and trans needs and consistent and continuous training, that will address the biases and deepen understanding. Inclusion must be rooted in justice and human rights. The truth is many queer people still feel unsafe and unsupported at work and some even hide who they are just to keep their jobs.”

Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) says it continues to receive numerous complaints from various workplaces including state institutions and the private sectors, where members of the LGBTQIA+ communities face discrimination.

SAHRC commissioner Professor Tshepo Madlingozi says discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is pervasive, despite South Africa’s progressive laws,

“The SAHRC revealed that it continues to receive a number of complaints from various workplaces, including state and private institutions, where members of the LGBTQIA+ communities continue to face discrimination and harassment and to suffer from pay gaps.

In extreme cases there are instances of bullying and violence. We also find that there are a number of institutions where the dress code continues to be heteronormative, therefore discriminating against queer employees. We continue to receive a number of complaints such as members of these communities not being hired, being asked unfair questions in the recruitment process, not being promoted and being stereotyped.”

Pride Month | Workplace inclusivity for LGBTQIA+