How much does LGBT+ exclusion cost? What is the impact on society, business and the economy?
These are the questions that Open For Business will answer in the English-speaking Caribbean through groundbreaking data collection, starting today.
This first-of-its-kind research initiative will measure the socioeconomic impact of homophobic/transphobic stigma and laws by focusing on a loss of human capital, labour output, brain drain, and lost tourism – ultimately presenting the larger economic cost of LGBT+ exclusion.
Caribbean LGBT+ leaders are cautiously optimistic that an evidence driven case for economic inclusion is needed, particularly following the devastation of COVID-19.
Open For Business is launching a survey in 12 countries in the Caribbean – and its diaspora – to gather data on the socioeconomic impact of LGBT+ exclusion.
Funded by Virgin Atlantic, this survey covers the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the LGBT+ Caribbean diaspora in the US, Canada and the UK.
This survey link is available here:
By collecting data, Open For Business will develop a clear picture of how LGBT+ inclusion is crucial to societal, business and economic outcomes in the region.
This will provide civil society, business leaders, governments, international organizations, and media with a fresh perspective on the case for LGBT+ rights.
Following this, and with the support of its Programme Advisory Board comprised of partners throughout the region, Open For Business will build a sustainable network of business leaders who collaborate with the public and private sectors to advance LGBT+ inclusion and rights in society, using the research as the impetus for doing so.
Open For Business has done similarly impactful work in other countries. In Kenya, for example, research found that LGBT+ discrimination costed the Kenyan economy USD $1.3 billion in one year alone. This data reframed the public debate about LGBT+ rights in the country.
By using this research in Kenya, Open For Business has worked with business leaders on the creation of a first-ever private sector led non-discrimination policy.
Phil Crehan, Principle Investigator with Open For Business, said: “This is very unique research, and also greatly needed.
LGBT+ people are excluded from almost all data collection efforts, keeping them invisible. We’re addressing this in the Caribbean, so that policymakers and others know the extent of the challenges they face, as well as how to promote their rights and inclusion in society”.
Liam Rezende, an Open For Business Fellow from Trinidad and Tobago, said: “This is an ideal moment for the region to discuss the economic case for inclusion. We have to be as open and inclusive and welcoming to as many people as possible if we want to stay competitive.
We need to ensure that people are able to bring their whole selves to work every single day so that they can perform at their best. We simply can’t afford to exclude anyone.”
Alexus D’Marco, Executive Director of UCTRANS and part of the Programme Advisory Board, said: “It is imperative to collect LGBT data throughout the Caribbean to guide and identify evidence-based approaches – for programs must address the diversified communities and subsets that constitute the Caribbean states”.
