The Bombay Times urges the workforce to embrace inclusivity

Bombay Times has rolled out the second edition of its 'Out & Proud @Work’ campaign to highlight the prejudice at and outside the workplace. 

 

Conceptualised by FCB India, the film takes place in a company town hall and features Akshay Verma, co-founder, Fitpass, sharing how discrimination seeps into workplaces. Verma tells the story of how their recruiting agency hadn’t passed on a candidate's profile just because he was transgender. The candidate had the same educational background as Verma. The film ends by highlighting that around 87% of LGBTQ+ employees still feel unaccepted at work.

 

Neeti Chopra, brand director, Times Metro Supplements and The Economic Times, said, "As many working professionals chart their careers, those in the LGBTQ+ community are lost in the shadows simply because of their gender identity, expression, and sexual orientation. With the launch of 'Bombay Times Out & Proud @Work,' we hope to rally the ecosystem and all its stakeholders to be more inclusive and welcoming of this community. Bringing important issues to the fore and diverse perspectives to address this is a tangible way of driving change. We have seen time and again that our readers are enthused by such initiatives and come out strongly to support them.’’

 

Swati Bhattacharya, creative chairperson, FCB India, said, “There’s no form of violence more subversive than financial violence. And there’s an unbearably high incidence of it on the LGBTQ+ community in India. When we deny someone a livelihood, we deny them a life - and that’s what this bias at work across India’s workplaces is doing to thousands every day. The Bombay Times Out & Proud @Work campaign isn’t just a call for conversations, it’s a call to action - which is why we’re not starting this campaign at the beginning of Pride Month, but at the beginning of the financial year.”

 

Srini Ramaswamy, co-founder, Pride Circle, said “24 years on from the first pride march in India, and over four years of decriminalising Section 377 of IPC, the efforts of LGBT+ equity & inclusion are far from over. Even today the members of the community persistently face discrimination, harassment, bullying, microaggressions, and even rejection from jobs despite having the necessary skills and education. One way to help address these is by embracing authentic allyship, both as individuals and as organisations. Pride Circle plays that role and advocates and creates an environment for people to be their true authentic selves. We believe in empowering the LGBTQ+ community through skilling, employability, and entrepreneurship programs while enabling organisations to foster a culture of belonging.”

 

CREDITS: 

Client: Bombay Times 

Agency: FCB India

Director: Vikas Maurya

Production house: Fuel Content