Inclusion Cafe: How to include LGBT people in the workplace

Diversity and inclusion may be on everyone's lips these days, but not everyone necessarily knows how to go about integrating these concepts into daily practise.

If you're a manager or staff at a business, or work at a non-profit or government agency and are interested in learning how to do so, there's an upcoming opportunity you might want to take note of.

The Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Services Agencies of BC and South Vancouver Neighbourhood House (in partnership with the Vancouver Public Library and the City of Vancouver) are presenting the second Inclusion Café: LGBTTQ Inclusion in the Workplace (part of a four-part series). It's part of the Safe Harbour: Respect for All program, which is coordinated in 29 B.C. communities by AMSSA to encourage support for diversity at businesses, organizations, and municipalities.

The free event will take place at the Vancouver Public Library central branch (350 West Georgia) on July 18 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Provincial Safe Harbour program coordinator Lindsay Marsh of AMSSA explained that the topic was chosen in light of Pride Week coming up.

Some issues that Marsh and Koyali Burman of SVNH will address include:

• subtle forms of discrimination, including assuming that everyone is heterosexual

• concerns about coming out in the workplace

• explanations of how to properly use terms such as two-spirited

Qmunity executive director Dara Parker, a special guest speaker at the event, will present her insights as well as talk about her organization's services and programs.

Small discussion groups will offer a chance for attendees to learn from others and share their own stories and practices. Refreshments will be served after the session.

Deadline for registration is July 15. To RSVP, contact information is available at the Safe Harbour website.