Promote the inclusion of gender minorities in the workplace. This is the purpose of the charter signed this Saturday between the metropolis of Montpellier and the association l’Autre Cercle Occitanie-Méditerranée. It is the reference organization on the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans, queer) in the workplace.
In this text, there are 15 measures. In particular so that the initiatives of employees in favor of the LGBTQ+ cause are valued or that jokes or discriminatory remarks are sanctioned. But it also aims to train people who work in metropolitan France on these issues.
This charter is not just a piece of paper but a real commitment, says Sylvie Meisel, co-president of the Other-Cercle Occitanie-Méditerranée. “There are things that change thanks to this charter. It’s a commitment with an action plan behind it. And the fact of working on inclusion, raising awareness, training, using vocabulary, it’s is important. As well as knowing that if there is discrimination or if there is aggression, there will be an investigation and a possible sanction if necessary.”
A strong political commitment
The town hall of Montpellier had already signed this charter since 2015. It was the first town hall in France to sign it. So she gets involved again. And with it, for the first time, the metropolis of Montpellier. A political commitment needed to promote the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people at work underlines Sylvie Meisel. “It is still an emblematic town hall and metropolis. The commitment of politicians and a community on the subject is a form of fight against all discrimination.” Other companies and organizations have signed this charter, such as the Medef Hérault, the town hall of Grau du Roi, Véolia Eau Languedoc and the University of Montpellier.
Make LGBTQ+ people visible at work
In this charter, one of the important ideas is to allow LGBTQ+ people to be visible in their work environmentThat is to say to be able to tell their colleagues, without being discriminated against, that they are homosexual, lesbian or trans, for example. “The goal is to make it possible to be visible if the person wishes. In the world of work, informality is very important. In informal moments, when you are at the coffee machine for example, you must talk about your life at one time or another. It is extremely important for those who wish to be able to talk about their spouse, like everyone else, without hiding” explains Sylvie Meisel, co-president of the Other-Cercle Occitanie-Méditerranée.
Before this signature, a round table was organized this Saturday at the town hall of Montpellier around the release of the “VOILAT” guide aimed at promoting the inclusion of lesbian women at work. A book created by the association Autre Cercle.
loading
loading
