Over 90 companies and organisations – employing more than 435,000 people in Brazil – signed an open letter urging the presidential candidates to recognise and commit to public policies and concrete actions that support LGBTQ+ diversity, respect and inclusion in the Brazilian workplace, on the eve of the country’s election.
The letter, titled the “Open Letter in Support of Diversity, Respect and Inclusion for LGBTQI+ People in the Workplace in Brazil”, represents a coalition of Brazilian and multinational companies and organisations that value diversity, respect and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in Brazilian workplaces. The letter affirms the value and commitment of companies to create work environments where people feel welcome, where they belong, and can contribute to their fullest potential and thrive.
“We are in awe seeing such strong, unwavering, and growing support in Brazil for workplaces where LGBTQI+ people feel like they can bring their full and authentic selves to the workplace, be accepted, and feel a sense of belonging among colleagues and teams – which is good not only for employees, but for the business, and for society broadly”, said Erin Uritus, CEO at Out & Equal, working to advance LGBTQI+ equality in the workplace. “As evidenced by the number of signatories, businesses in Brazil understand the value of a sound and steady commitment to LGBTQI+ inclusion. More than double the number of companies have signed onto this letter than a similar letter in 2018. LGBTQI+ inclusion not only keeps companies competitive in the global marketplace and positively impacts their bottom lines, but it greatly impacts the communities and societies in which these businesses operate.”
LGBTQ+ INCLUSION AT WORK
The letter was organised by Out & Equal and two Brazilian organisations working towards LGBTQI+ workplace inclusion – Fórum de Empresas e Direitos LGBTI+ and Instituto Mais Diversidade.
“This is a time when most organisations are looking at human rights, diversity and the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) agenda”, added Ricardo Sales, Founding Partner of Mais Diversidade and President of the Council of Instituto Mais Diversidade. “There is no ESG without democracy. It is only in democracy – guaranteeing fundamental rights, policies of inclusion, distribution of opportunities and respect – that we advance in the agenda. The world already has a different outlook on ESG and Brazil has the opportunity to lead and drive the matter. As such, it is necessary that all governments are committed to this issue”.
While the letter is not addressed to a specific presidential candidate or political party, its objective is to encourage anyone running for office to recognise the importance of diversity, respect, and inclusion of all people in the workplace, including LGBTQ+ people, in line with the companies’ values.
SUPPORT FOR DIVERSITY
“This initiative goes beyond political parties,” highlighted Reinaldo Bulgarelli, Executive Secretary of the Fórum de Empresas e Direitos LGBTI+. “We recognise how important it is for the world of politics and democracy to support diversity and human rights. You have a set of big brands positioning themselves. It is an initiative that mobilises the presidents of these organisations to demonstrate their support and focus on diversity in the corporate environment and, consequently, helps to mobilise the political environment”.
The first Statement of Support was signed in 2018 by more than 30 corporations and non-governmental organisations that together employed more than 110,000 people in Brazil, reaffirming the belief in and commitment to initiatives that drive diversity and support inclusion of all people in the workplace, including LGBTQ+ people.
SUPPORTING COMPANIES
The companies that have signed the letter include:
- 3M do Brasil
- Accenture
- Algar Tech
- American Airlines
- Amgen
- Atento
- Banco Inter
- Banco Société Générale Brasil
- Barbosa, Müssnich, Aragão Advogados
- Ben & Jerry’s
- BNY Mellon
- Braskem
- Brown-Forman
- BVA Advogados
- Citi
- CNseg
- Cogna Educação
- Copastur Viagens e Turismo
- Deloitte
- Demarest Advogados
- Dow
- DuPont do Brasil
- Edelman Brasil
- Electrolux
- EY Brasil
- FedEx
- Fiserv
- Fitch Ratings
- General Motors
- Grupo BCW Brasil
- Grupo Carrefour Brasil
- Grupo SADA
- Grupo SEB
- Habitasul
- Imgredion
- Irani Papel e Embalagem
- JPMorgan
- KLA Advogados
- KR2 Comunicação
- Lear
- Localiza
- Machado Meyer Advogados
- Mais Diversidade
- ManpowerGroup Brasil
- Máquina Cohn & Wolfe
- Mattos Filho
- MCM Brand Experience
- Medtronic
- Microsoft
- Mondelez International
- Novartis Brasil
- Novo Nordisk
- NTT DATA Brasil
- Oliver Press
- Oracle
- Pinheiro Neto Advogados
- PwC
- Roost
- Salesforce
- Sandoz
- Sanofi
- SAP
- Serur Advogados
- Siemens Energy Brasil
- Sompo Seguros
- Stocche Forbes Advogados
- TozziniFreire Advogados
- Uber
- UL Solutions
- Veirano Advogados
- Veracel Celulose S/A
- Zeno Brasil
- Zurich Seguros
Other Supporting Organisations
- ABGLT — Associação Brasileira de Gays, Lésbicas, Bissexuais, Travestis,
Transexuais e Intersexos - Aliança Nacional LGBTI
- Associação Brasileira de Famílias Homotransafetivas
- Associação dos Profissionais de Propaganda
- Casa Neon Cunha
- Coletivo LGBT Prisma
- Council for Global Equality[DIVERSITY BBOX]
- Grupo Dignidade
- Instituto Ethos
- Instituto Matizes
- INvolve
- Open For Business
- Rede Brasileira de Mulheres LBTQ+
- Rede GayLatino
- The LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
- TransEmpregos
A copy of the letter is available here.
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