Beyond the Blame Game: Religion and LGBTQ Inclusion at Work

Description

Internationally and locally, conflicts between religious and LGBTQ communities are making headlines, from the question of whether marriage equality will survive the current socio-political environment to the fight for basic civil rights. Religious communities are also being accused of being homophobic, but are all the voices from those communities being heard? When we bring our whole selves to work, outside tensions influence workplace interactions. In the workplace, these conflicts manifest in many ways, from uncomfortable conversations to overt discrimination. The resulting assumption is that these conflicts are inevitable and unavoidable.

Presenters will unpack this assumption by identifying the misconceptions and oversimplifications that too often derail constructive conversations about this topic and result in blame shifting. The session will provide participants with parameters and possibilities for mitigating conflicts and creating cultures of inclusion for everyone at work.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand the many ways that religious and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender identities intersect at work
• Explore opportunities for mitigating conflicts based on common stereotypes and pitfalls at work
• Identify next steps to create a culture of inclusion for all employees at work, no matter identity