The Paradox of Inclusivity: The Importance of Queer Safe Spaces in Companies

A paradox in building an inclusive company is the necessity to nurture certain exclusive safe spaces for minorities. These spaces allow them to freely express themselves, share laughter, and find support. At Teamleader, we have such groups, and one of them being "Queerleader." It is a closed private Slack group where LGBTQ+ and questioning individuals, out or not, can do exactly that.

It might seem counterintuitive that, on the road to inclusion, we sometimes feel the need to separate ourselves from the larger group. However, queer safe spaces are a common response to the historical marginalisation, discrimination, and exclusion faced by LGBTQI+ people in various aspects of life. Although progress has been made, marginalisation and exclusion still persist in many places and forms. Pride and queer safe spaces are still a necessity.

Today, progressive workplaces, like Teamleader, are committed to providing a healthy workplace culture where LGBTQI+ individuals can be their authentic selves without fearing negative consequences. Queer safe spaces play a crucial role. When this group continues conversations with leadership, it benefits the organisation's mission for diversity and inclusion. The group can proactively point out blind spots in the organisation and give advice on how to counter these.

Inclusion is largely influenced by an individual's sense of belonging to a group. Belonging is a fundamental layer in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, emphasising its importance for companies aiming to foster a healthy workplace culture. Due to the prevalent cis-hetero norm in society, many factors contributing to a sense of belonging go unnoticed and taken for granted. It is often underestimated how sexual orientation and gender expression shape personal experiences, joys, and challenges. Straightness, like any other orientation, evokes a particular lifestyle that impacts how connections, experiences, and communities are shaped.

These unnoticed cis-hetero lifestyle common denominators are not always shared by queer people. Early in life, most of us notice our differences even before we can label them as gay, lesbian, bi, trans, and so on. Labelling it helps us find our communities and allows us to feel like we're not alone, different, or weird, which is where we can start cultivating a broader sense of belonging. Our experiences, connections, and stories continue to have a rainbow hue. That's why most of us keep nurturing our sense of belonging within queer spaces.

For me and many others, work is an integral part of life and our self-actualisation. Sadly, without a corporate queer space, something is missing, preventing the complete experience. It is something even the most well-intentioned organisation can't provide top-down. Just like in life, having a queer space at work significantly improves well-being by providing a safe and supportive group where individuals can connect with others who share similar experiences and challenges. This self-supporting inclusive environment helps combat feelings of isolation and enhances mental well-being. Moreover, being part of a queer community stimulates a profound sense of validation and acceptance. This acceptance positively impacts an individual's self-esteem, empowering them and creating a ripple effect of benefits throughout the entire organisation. Additionally, the queer community offers a unique opportunity for increased mentorship and access to LGBTQI+ role models, creating a supportive network that spans across different departments and life stages.

The extra benefits for the organisation outside the queer space are also palpable. Beyond personal growth, the presence of a visible queer community within the organisation plays a vital role in advocacy and fostering genuine allyship. By demonstrating the corporation's commitment to LGBTQI+ rights and inclusivity, the queer community inspires allies to actively support equality efforts beyond the queer scope. These allies, including straight individuals, come together as a united team to challenge biases and work towards an inclusive workplace for all. An integrated minority community heightens awareness of organisational blind spots and biases, prompting the organisation to actively seek out and address other areas where improvements are needed. As the organisation becomes more sensitive to one minority, it naturally encourages increased awareness and interest in other minority groups, further advancing the goal of creating an inclusive workplace.

To conclude, establishing an exclusive queer community within a corporation can profoundly impact inclusivity for the entire organisation. An organisation embracing diversity by being in conversation with this group will promote a more inclusive workplace that benefits all.