to find peers. This was especially difficult for transgender sole traders who did not have institutional support to facilitate LGBTQ+ networks, working groups or committees. ...like being a transgender person in the construction industry, like wow! It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Where are they? I know they’re somewhere, but people aren’t talking about it because there’s so much transphobia out there, it’s worse than homophobia… When I was on SALT (Supporting and Linking Trades Women) some women had even said ‘Oh, but if you’re a non-binary [person] you shouldn’t be a member of SALT and you shouldn’t be on this group”. Women who are in SALT are [usually] so progressive. Queer, 40s I actually even thought about creating a group on Facebook, Queers in Trades, not just Gay Tradies. I know there’s one on Facebook called Gay Tradies, but just where people who are transgender can network. Because we’re out there, I know we’re out there, it’s just we don’t, we can’t, because we’re such a small percentage and we can’t find each other. So, I think that social groups, like it could be Instagram it could be Facebook, a point of call where they can contact each other and maybe get together, just socially. Queer, 40s When asked what type of network they would find useful, a female participant said she would prefer a broader network, rather than one just for lesbians: I think I’d like the broader network because it opens your mind to so many other people’s different stories and different people. Lesbian, female, 20s
14. LGBTQ+ INCLUSION AND PRODUCTIVITY Businesses that had adapted their work practices, for example around building a good safety culture, were described as being more open to changing other aspects of their work culture to improve efficiency and productivity.
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