New Global Champions : Why fast-growing companies from emerging markets are embracing LGBT+ inclusion

E. Vaughn, P. Papaefstathiou, J. Green

This report aims to further strengthen the business case for LGBT+ inclusion, with a focus on emerging markets - where support for LGBT+ inclusion is often most needed. Many of the fastest growing companies based in emerging markets are embracing LGBT+ inclusion. This report presents a qualitative evaluation of this trend, and explores the underlying drivers. This report presents a comprehensive evidence base linking LGBT+ inclusion with the business performance of a group of the fastest growing companies headquartered in emerging markets. Building upon the global evidence base developed by Open For Business, it also includes the internal and external actions that businesses can take to promote LGBT+ inclusive societies. This report examines how support for LGBT+ inclusion has grown over recent years by comparing the latest results with data from Open For Business reports published in 20151 and 2018. In that time, the number of companies that have public policies against LGBT+ discrimination has doubled: from 19 in 2015 to 37 in 2019. In this report, we categorise the companies into three Tiers according to whether they have public statements against LGBT+ discrimination (Tier 1), public statements against general discrimination (Tier 2) or no public statements (Tier 3). The results show that only a minority of companies (22%) have no public statements at all.