Being criticized for the way you dress, behave or speak, hiding your true self, being the subject of jokes and gossip...these are some of the challenges facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people across the region at their place of work.

Some tell of being turned down for a job because the interviewer disapproved of their physical appearance, which did not match their expectations based on what a man or a woman should look like. Others tell stories of how they have suffered discrimination on the job simply because their behaviour, identity and expression differ from the prevalent norms in society.   

The stories illustrate a reality that LGBTI people face daily at work.  

In the Asia-Pacific region, LGBTI people are among the most marginalized populations. While there have been improvements in achieving gender diversity, LGBTI people continue to face persistent stigma and discrimination.  Making a successful business career, or even a decent living can be an extremely difficult goal for them to reach. A range of barriers appear along the way: being rejected for positions, denied promotions, harassment, dismissal or being forced to leave jobs, and denial of partner benefits that are available to heterosexual couples.

But things are changing albeit slowly. There is increasing recognition internationally that diversity and inclusion are good for business. Coalitions of global companies, such as Open for Business, are raising awareness in the private sector, making the business case for LGBTI inclusion. And studies show that gender equality plays a critical role in reducing poverty and contributing to positive outcomes for human development and human capital, among other things.

UNDP’s Being LGBTI in Asia Pacific programme has been working to raise awareness about such issue for LGBTI people in Asia, and generating the evidence needed for policy reform.

One study found that transgender applicants in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam were only half as likely as cisgender applicants to receive a positive response for job applications, and be selected for a job interview. While such discrimination is likely to lead to unemployment, it also negatively affects emotional and economic wellbeing. It adds pressure to work in the informal sector including in sex work, subsequently increasing vulnerability to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

If successful in securing a job, employment discrimination continues beyond the recruitment stage. In a joint UNDP-ILO study, 21% of LGBTI people respondents in China, 30% in the Philippines and 23% in Thailand reported being harassed, bullied or discriminated against by others at work due to their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE). Those who experienced employment discrimination said they felt pressured to conform to gender norms whilst becoming less satisfied at the work environment and were more likely to consider quitting their jobs.

In the very few workplaces with LGBTI-inclusive policies, the study showed that such policies positively lead to higher levels of job satisfaction and less discrimination.

Through research, UNDP and its partners are generating the data needed to discuss policy and programming for economic inclusion of LGBTI people across the region. Civil society, governments, private sectors and development partners will need to work together to create more inclusive and diverse workplaces that guarantee fair working conditions for everyone regardless of their SOGIE a win-win for business, LGBTI people and the economy as a whole.

Words: Katri Kivioja and Angel Treesa Roni, Being LGBTI in Asia Team, UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub

Originally published in the Gender Equality Dispatch Vol.3

PDF version of the Newsletter - click here