Diversity is Good for Business

  A Decade of Advocacy  

ShanghaiPRIDE’s foundation began in 2009 as a festival celebrating diversity in Shanghai. With this foundation starting over 10 years ago, it is still led entirely by volunteers with the support of businesses, numerous consulates, and media. Our mission is to raise awareness and visibility, promote self-acceptance and overall acceptance of the LGBTQ community in society, academia, and workplace through corporate, cultural, educational, sports, and social activities.

Our work collaborates with various LGBTQ and ally groups addressing issues related to the LGBTQ community in China and globally. We look at family acceptance, marriage equality, well-being, and workplace diversity and inclusion (D&I).

  Supporting Corporate D&I Culture  

One key pillar of ShanghaiPRIDE is supporting and collaborating with local companies and corporations in their D&I initiatives within the LGBTQ scope.

Since 2013, ShanghaiPRIDE has been promoting LGBTQ inclusion in workplaces and has partnered with several Fortune 500 companies including Dow, Goldman Sachs, and Morgan Stanley. We drive this through inclusive training, educational sessions, and best practice sharing.

Since 2018 we have worked with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates for the Out & Equal China Forum. Last year, the forum was sponsored by Bayer, Dell, GSK, IBM, Intel, and Willis Towers Watson. We hosted workshops focused on corporate D&I policies, employee resource groups (ERGs), challenges and successes implementing these policies internationally as well as locally. It has also created a safe and inclusive space for networking for LGBTQ employees and allies within the workplace.

The 2019 forum was attended by more than 200 senior leaders and D&I policymakers representing over 90 companies, including multi-national and Chinese corporations, academics and NGOs. Attendees traveled from the APAC region and other cities in mainland China to participate in the event. With the attendance in 2019 doubling from the previous year, we see this as an indication that there is a growing interest for LGBTQ inclusion in the workplace in China.

  Diversity is Good for Business  

Companies with higher diversity and inclusivity have been proven statistically to be more successful. ShanghaiPRIDE believes that equal opportunities and rewards encourage LGBTQ employees to bring their authentic and best selves to work. We want to connect companies with talents from local and international backgrounds, various career experiences, and from different industries within China. We want to help our corporate partners showcase their inclusion efforts, initiatives, and policies to potential talents.

  Partnership with Beijing LGBT Center
  to Drive Corporate LGBTQ Inclusion  

ShanghaiPRIDE is proud to partner with Beijing LGBT Center to provide services to corporations to create a more diverse and inclusive culture within the workplace. We will collaborate through D&I forums, keynotes, workshops, etc.

Our work will include:

·   Training and guidelines on LGBTQ for corporations: We will develop training workshops within the dimension of LGBTQ and guidelines for corporations to implement inclusive corporate policies.

·   Supporting LGBTQ in workplaces: We plan to organize various online and offline activities including corporate D&I webinars and conferences, business networking sessions, recruitment and mentorship programs in Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities to support the career development of LGBTQ employees.

·   Corporate LGBTQ D&I index: We plan to establish LGBTQ D&I certification standards for Chinese-based companies in the next few years to encourage more companies to adopt inclusive policies.

  Coming Up this Summer  

One exciting opportunity we are embarking on this summer is the ShanghaiPRIDE Job Fair and Workplace D&I Forums supported by UNDP Being LGBTI in Asia and Beijing LGBT Center. We will provide a safe space connecting LGBTQ talents with inclusive employers, offering a unique opportunity for employers to showcase their diverse and inclusive cultures. Attendees will also meet and connect with other Human Resources and D&I professionals who are advancing diversity and inclusion in China. There will be a series of forums focused on creating a more inclusive corporate culture.

Topics include:

·   How Supporting LGBTQ Benefits Companies Overall

·   How to Create an Inclusive Employee Handbook / Best Practices

·   Introduction – Research on Workplace Inclusion in China

·   How to Set Up and Manage an Employee Resource Group (ERG)

·   Ally Programs for Corporations

  Call for Action  

What you can do:

·   Learn more about LGBTQ workplace D&I and understand why and how LGBTQ inclusion matters to businesses in China;

·   Educate those around you the importance of LGBTQ D&I in the workplace and encourage them to be involved;

·   Take the first step, form a LGBTQ support group in the workplace, and reach out to the local LGBTQ community;

·   Be an Ally and an Advocate for inclusion!

Imagine a workplace where everyone is celebrated and respected for who they are. Imagine a workplace that welcomes their employees to bring their whole selves to work without fear or judgment or discrimination.

Together we can make a difference.

For inquiries about partnerships, contact

Shanghai：
Co-founder, ShanghaiPRIDE
Charlene Liu:
shanghaipride@gmail.com

Beijing：
Business and Diversity Manager
任娜瑛 Naying Ren:
naying.ren@bjlgbt.cn

  Strategic Partner  

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敢晒 敢骄傲 | Raise the Pride