Like any other minority group, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community is often subject to negative treatment that others might never experience. Some members of the LGBT community may be extremely sensitive to how they are treated when doing business with you. You may not know when you are dealing with an LGBT person: being gay-friendly simply means being aware that your clients might be LGBT-identified and that you treat all of your clients, regardless of their identity, with the care and respect that they deserve. We come in all shapes, sizes, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. While you may think that you can tell who is gay, you may be mistaken. A comment, or even certain words or phrases, made by you or a member of your staff may upset or offend someone, losing you potential business.
Here are key points to keep in mind:
- Make everyone feel welcome
- Avoid asking a lot of personal questions (e.g. “Is that for your wife/girlfriend/husband/boyfriend?”)
- Treat everyone with common courtesy
- Never assume anyone’s sexual or gender identity
- Help people feel safe, secure, and unthreatened
- Be supportive of the LGBT community and its activities
Click here to learn more about our Gay Sensitivity Training Program!