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LGBTQ+ History Month: Building Equality in the Construction Industry

February marks LGBTQ+ History Month, a time to learn about and promote equality and diversity in our communities. However, within the construction industry, there continue to be barriers for the LGBTQ+ community in gaining equality.

Equality in Construction

This year marks 50 years since the first pride event in the UK, and LGBTQ+ History Month is an opportunity to generate awareness about how much has changed in the last 50 years. It’s also a time to look forward and look towards change. Considering the statistics, it should especially be a time to do just that in the construction industry.

In a 2018 survey, Construction News found that 28% of workers in the construction industry faced LGBTQ-phobic abuse at work (compared to 18% across Britain). It was also found that 54% aren’t comfortable being open on-site, and a further 60% said being LGBTQ+ has had a negative impact on their career.

We’ve discussed before the importance of mental health support and awareness in our industry, but we need to consider as well the added pressure on marginalised communities like the LGBTQ+ community. According to Stonewall, LGBTQ+ individuals are 50% more likely to have mental health issues and twice as likely to attempt suicide. In the 2018 survey mentioned above, Construction News found that 31% of LGBTQ+ individuals felt working in the construction industry negatively impacted their mental health.

An Opportunity for Further Awareness

Building Equality is an alliance of professionals in the construction industry who are working hard to drive LGBTQ+ inclusion within our industry. In materials available to download on their website, they’ve discussed the importance of allyship, and why it’s so important to be an ally. They shared, “An Ally knows that LGBTQ+ people deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, just like everyone else, and there are ways to reinforce that truth every day.”

It’s important for those who are not a part of the LGBTQ+ community to consider the words they use and actions they take on-site to ensure that they aren’t making anyone feel uncomfortable. Similar to offering anyone on-site mental health support, it’s important to start by listening and asking how someone is doing. Building Equality reminds us that we shouldn’t be quick to judge while listening as everyone will have had different life experiences. Also remember that if someone has confided in you that they are part of the LGBTQ+ community, that doesn’t mean they’re ready for everyone else on-site to know.

This is an opportunity for us to recognise the struggles of this community within our own industry and start a conversation to help change the narrative. LGBTQ+ History Month helps to increase visibility of the LGBT+ community and make the general public more aware of their history, lives, and experiences. It’s also a time to raise awareness on issues that affect the LGBT+ community.

During February, consider taking the time to educate yourself and become an Ally. There are a number of websites available to learn about both the history of the LGBTQ+ community in the UK and what you can do to support them and spread awareness.

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