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25th February, 2022

MDX recognised for its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion at work

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Middlesex has received a Bronze Award for its commitment to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in the workplace.

We ranked 103rd (out of 403 institutions) in the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, moving up 62 places since 2020. We came 15th out of the 50 higher education institutions ranked in the sector.

For twenty years, Stonewall has been supporting employers to create welcoming workplaces for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people. According to the charity’s research, more than a third of LGBTQ+ staff (35 per cent) hide who they are at work, while one in five (18 per cent) have been the target of negative comments because they’re LGBTQ+.

As part of Stonewall’s Bring Yourself To Work, the LGBTQ+ equality charity, has published its Top 100 Employers List, awarded a series of Gold, Silver and Bronze awards to organisations to celebrate their inclusion work. The charity will also be highlighting the importance of inclusion for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people, and the life-changing impact of being able to bring your whole self to work.

Liz Ward, Director of Programmes at Stonewall (she/her) said:

“We spend so much of our time at work, and our career can be a huge part of how we define ourselves. Every single lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer person should be able to be themself at work. From understanding how HR policies, such as parental leave, will affect them, to being reassured that they can speak openly about their lives and partners at the coffee machine, the impact of inclusive workplaces can be life-changing.

‘It’s fantastic that Middlesex has gained a Bronze Award for their efforts and commitment to creating an inclusive work environment, and we look forward to seeing and supporting the rest of their inclusion journey.”

Anna Kyprianou, MDX’s Executive lead for promoting diversity said:

“I am delighted that we have been recognised by Stonewall for our commitment to inclusion of lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer people in the workplace, especially during LGBT+ History Month.  The Bronze Award is a good foundation for us to build on. There is  still much work to be done including giving greater visibility and providing more support to bi, trans and non-binary people, as well as LGBT+ people of colour and with disabilities, in our University community. We remain committed to listening to and to amplifying their voices and addressing any systemic issues that hinder LGBT+ students and staff from being fully themselves at MDX. If we all feel able to bring our true selves to work and our place of study we can achieve so very much more.”

“The Stonewall Bronze award signals just one part of our work to develop an even more inclusive culture and foster even greater shared values, respect and opportunities. In line with our new strategy, equality, diversity and inclusion remains a central focus, including our work towards the Race Equality Charter, our commitment to following through on our Athena Swan Bronze Award Action plan and submitting our application for Disability Confident Employer Level 2.”

Rachael Wall, MDXSU’s Head of Membership Services and Co-Chair of the University’s LGBT+ Staff Forum added:

“This is great news and testament to our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Our LGBT+ Staff Network is proudly co-led by staff from the University and Students’ Union, and we frequently work in collaboration with the LGBTQ+ Students Liberation Group.  Together we have created a Student Trans Policy as well as an action plan to set out further steps to ensure the inclusion of our trans and non-binary colleagues and students. We know we can’t be complacent and there is more to do but it’s so good to receive this recognition from Stonewall.”

The Stonewall Top 100 Employers list this year can be found on the Stonewall website, as well as further information about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion.


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