Valletta – The annual Out@Work conference, organized by the Allied Rainbow
Community (ARC) in collaboration with the General Workers’ Union (GWU),
continues to serve as a strong expression of commitment to the LGBTIQ+
community. This initiative stems from a Memorandum of Understanding signed four
years ago between the two organizations.
Speaking to L-Orizzont, Kendrick Bondin, Secretary of the Government and Public
Entities Section within the GWU, stated:
“This reflects our equality policy that came into effect in 2018. We want to continue
strengthening our commitment to making workplaces safe, inclusive, and respectful
environments, where workers are accepted regardless of their identity.”
The third edition of the Out@Work conference, held yesterday at the GWU
headquarters in Valletta, focused on promoting the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ individuals
in the workplace. Bondin emphasized that despite progress, real challenges persist,
including a lack of acceptance from colleagues and employers.
“There are cases where other employees do not welcome members of this
community – for example, excluding them from casual coffee breaks or offering
unsolicited ‘advice’ on how they should speak or dress to fit in. These situations can
have a negative impact on individuals, even leading to resignations,” Bondin added.
He stressed the importance of such conferences in continuing education and raising
awareness about respect and tolerance in both workplaces and society at large.
Another speaker, Ryan Portelli, discussed the creation of cultures of belonging,
highlighting key pillars such as psychological safety, visible leadership, peer support,
and inclusive language.
“Belonging is the emotional and psychological state where a person feels safe,
accepted, and welcomed at work – where they can be themselves without censoring
their identity.”
Joyce Coomber Sewell, now 70 years old, shared her personal experience as a
bisexual woman. She recounted how she had to hide her identity for many years
until she met her partner at work. Today, they have been married for 14 years.
“People change over time, but LGBTIQ+ individuals must remain strong and support
one another,” she concluded.
Throughout the conference, various interventions were made, including a speech by
Maria Azzopardi on behalf of ARC, who spoke about achievements in this field and
the challenges that remain. Other participants shared their workplace experiences
and discussed areas where companies are performing well and where improvement
is still needed.
