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Out & Equal Workplace Advocates today announced their strategic partnership and support for the world’s largest ever LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) research study - LGBT2020. This important collaboration takes place at a time when the LGBT2020 project – undertaken by global specialist agency Out Now Consulting - nearly doubles its global LGBT population reach with the inclusion of India.
 
The inclusion of India – which is home to up to 50 million gay and lesbian adults - now brings the number of countries in the LGBT2020 survey to 25, and will provide never before collected information into the working lives and experiences of LGBT people on the Indian sub-continent. The LGBT2020 research study will reveal attitudes towards workers and reveal just how people’s working environments in India are affected by their sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, or other characteristics.
 
The initial key findings of the research data from all 25 countries being tested regarding Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace are to be released by Out Now at the Out & Equal Workplace Summit taking place in Dallas from October 25-28 2011. http://outandequal.org/summit-2011.
 
With a population of nearly 1.2 billion, India is home to fully 17.5% of the world’s population, and represents an unprecedented opportunity for companies wishing to develop and implement effective Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) policy and workplace legislation in this fast growing market. India’s economy has continued to boom in recent years, and it is now one of the 10 largest economies in the world - and growing rapidly. India is also in the top five fastest growing economies in the world according to figures published by the International Monetary Fund.
 
“As companies expand globally, the competition to recruit and develop the best talent also becomes a global challenge,“ according Out & Equal Workplace Advocate Founding Executive Director Selisse Berry. “Inclusive workplace policies will prove as critically important for business in Bangalore as in Boston. Information on extending LGBT friendly policies and practices globally is increasingly important to Out & Equal’s corporate partners, and the results of Out Now’s surveys will provide valuable data over the coming decade to help measure the issues – and the progress – of LGBT workplace equality in India, and around the world.”
 
“The rapid growth of India as an economic power is one of the most important global stories of modern times,” says Mike Wilke, US Consultant for Out Now Global, based in New York. “The implications for companies and other organisations engaged in business and social planning in the country are huge, and getting to grips with workplace and social issues faced by LGBT people in India is imperative.”
 
Ian Johnson, the founder and CEO of Out Now http://www.OutNowConsulting.com added: “We are all very excited about the inclusion of India into the LGBT2020 study for 2011 and the potential that this represents. It is extremely important to our vision to include new and emerging markets. Last year we added Brazil to our data set and this year we add India, which is home to around 50 million gay and lesbian adults. The Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study will, for the first time, shed light on the diversity of experiences that go to make up so many LGBT lives - from a truly global perspective.”
 
The strategic implications for companies looking to do business in India are far reaching. International companies that have already invested heavily in the country include IBM, Hyundai and Nokia. Understanding the cultural influences that affect workplace scenarios is vital for any company looking to implement effective D&I policy in the region.
 
The rapidly growing economy in India is now fuelling all major industries, including the country’s well known technology industry. Massive investment in the infrastructure is also helping to expand the retail market – another segment that is quickly drawing international interest and investment. Travel and tourism - both into and out of India’s LGBT markets is set for strong growth during the decade ahead.
 
The 'Out Now Global LGBT2020 Study' is a ten year program of research and is the world's most comprehensive LGBT research project. In 2011 the study is sampling gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in 10 languages from 25 countries on 6 continents on many aspects of their lives. From LGBT workplace issues, travel and tourism patterns, lifestyle habits, consumer expenditure, incomes, spending, discrimination and entertainment preferences - the LGBT2020 Study is a groundbreaking project from Out Now.
 
Out Now will work with lesbian and gay groups and other organisations to assure the widest possible sample reach. In India it is working with a number of specialists, including consultant Snehil S Dhall.
 
In 2010 almost 40,000 respondents from around the world participated in the LGBT2020 study.
 
To take part in the LGBT2020 study - visit LGBT2020.com from July 1, 2011.
 
 

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