Latest news with #LGBTIQ+
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Global Stock Exchanges Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality in Landmark Series Leading into Pride Month
For approved photos from Amsterdam, London and Toronto: click here WASHINGTON, May 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the lead-up to Pride Month in June, nearly 15 stock exchanges around the world made history in May by participating in a first-of-its-kind international series of 'Ringing the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality' events. Held between May 13 and May 23 in advance of Pride Month celebrations around the world, these ceremonies were aligned with the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), and served as a bold and unified call for renewed focus on LGBTIQ+ economic inclusion and empowerment. The bell ringings, organized by the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative in partnership with United Nations agencies, Koppa: The LGBTI+ Economic Power Lab (Koppa), and a growing coalition of LGBTIQ+ advocates and corporate partners, took place in major financial centers worldwide. Events were hosted by stock exchanges in Toronto, London, Australia, and Mexico — with nine Euronext exchanges also joining from Amsterdam to Paris. Exchange bell ringings will continue to occur through the month of Pride, including in Brazil. 'This was more than symbolic,' said Fabrice Houdart, co-founder of Koppa. 'These global bell ringings marked a collective stand for dignity, equality, and the fundamental economic rights of LGBTIQ+ people. As Pride Month begins, these events are a powerful reminder that the private sector has both a responsibility and an opportunity to lead.' A Global Signal for Inclusive Economies Amid a growing wave of federal government efforts to roll back corporate support for diversity and inclusion, the bell ringings highlighted the business community's resilience — and its determination to stand firm in its values, in the face of continued pressure to abandon long-held business practices of inclusion The events drew attention to alarming statistics: same-sex relationships are still criminalized in 66 countries, and more than half the world's economies lack workplace protections for LGBTIQ+ people. Discrimination continues to limit access to jobs, capital, and leadership, with the World Bank noting that sexual and gender minorities are significantly overrepresented among the world's poorest populations. For more background, read the remarks UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk delivered on May 16, 2025 to observe the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Elevating Visibility, Accountability, and Action The bell-ringing events also amplified the relevance of the UN Standards of Conduct for Business, which more than 400 companies have signed since 2017 to guide inclusive practices. Advocates emphasized the need to move from pledges to practice. 'True leadership is showing up — consistently, globally, and unapologetically,' said Houdart. 'We're calling on companies to bring LGBTIQ+ inclusion into every layer of their operations — not just during Pride Month, but year-round.' The initiative also underscored the persistent lack of LGBTIQ+ representation in corporate leadership. Fewer than 1% of board seats globally are held by openly LGBTIQ+ individuals, and only three openly LGBTIQ+ CEOs currently lead Fortune 500 companies. Yet studies show diverse leadership delivers stronger business outcomes and more inclusive workplace culture. By ringing the bell, exchanges, investors, and business leaders across continents sent a resounding message: visibility must lead to structural change — and the time to act is now. About KOPPA Koppa's mission is to unleash global LGBTI+ economic power through knowledge, financing, and connection, changing systems to create a more equitable future. We focus on innovation and bring the power of our broad networks, our understanding of the ecosystem, and hands-on experience in expanding economic opportunities for LGBTI+ people. For more information visit, For more information on the 2025 Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality events, visit the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative site: Contact:Ben Finzel, ben@ Zeke Stokes, zeke@
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Equality Rings Out Around the World as Stock Exchanges Join Forces in a Stand for LGBTIQ+ Inclusion
GENEVA and NEW YORK, May 14, 2025 /CNW/ -- In a landmark series of events affirming the rights and dignity of all individuals, stock exchanges around the world are coming together this month for the inaugural Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality initiative. Held in May to support the observance of the long-standing International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), the new initiative underscores a shared global commitment to advancing the equal rights, economic inclusion, and protection of LGBTIQ+ individuals. The initiative convenes a diverse coalition of leaders from stock exchanges, civil society, governments, and market participants to raise awareness of the importance of creating inclusive and equitable economic environments for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression or sex characteristics. Organised by a coalition of global partners all committed to this mission, including the UN Global Compact, UN Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative (UN SSE) and Koppa - The LGBTI+ Economic Power Lab. Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality mirrors the success of similar campaigns, such as the annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality initiative. This marks the first time stock exchanges have collectively sounded the opening or closing bell in a coordinated show of support for the equal rights of LGBTIQ+ people in the workplace and broader society. A Global Unifying Call 15 stock exchanges across 14 countries are taking part in the initiative, including ASX (Australia), Bolsa Mexicana (Mexico), Cboe (USA), Deutsche Börse (Germany), Euronext Group (Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, UK), LSEG (UK), Toronto (Canada). Each exchange has or will be hosting a ceremonial bell ringing accompanied by remarks from exchange leaders, civil society representatives, issuers, investors, and other market participants. These messages emphasize the ongoing need for progress and concrete action to support economic equality and inclusion for all, including LGBTIQ+ individuals. A Powerful Call to Action This global bell-ringing is more than a symbolic gesture - it is a powerful call to action. As institutions and companies work to build more inclusive cultures, Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality aims to catalyze leadership accountability, implement tangible policy improvements such as the promotions of inclusive workplace policies and legal protections, and support meaningful cultural change. "In 2015, just seven pioneering exchanges joined our first Ring the Bell for Gender Equality event and within a few years, it was a global phenomenon involving well over 100 exchanges. So today we're proud to be part of a new annual tradition with a new group of pioneering exchanges who are standing up to support equality and human rights for the LGBTIQ+ community," said Anthony Miller, Chief Coordinator, UN SSE. "Making sure no one faces stigma and discrimination, including in the workplace, is not only the right thing to do – it benefits everyone. We're proud to be partnering with stock exchanges, business and civil society to advance equality and human rights for all – LGBTIQ+ people included!" said Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. "Stigma and discrimination have no place in business or society. The private sector has a clear responsibility to eliminate these barriers, ensuring dignity and equal opportunities for LGBTIQ+ people everywhere. By ringing the bell for LGBTIQ+ equality, stock exchanges and listed companies are sending a powerful signal that inclusion isn't just good ethics—it's good business," said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director, UN Global Compact. "The participation of international stock exchanges in the inaugural 'Ring the Bell for LGBTI Equality' sends a powerful message: the private sector has both a responsibility and an opportunity to advance LGBTI+ rights. Around the world, LGBTI+ people remain disproportionately affected by poverty, and their economic empowerment must be a priority. At Koppa, we believe equality is not just a value — it's an investment in shared prosperity," said Fabrice Houdart, Partner, Koppa: The LGBTI+ Economic Power Lab. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE United Nations Global Compact View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
14-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Equality Rings Out Around the World as Stock Exchanges Join Forces in a Stand for LGBTIQ+ Inclusion
GENEVA and NEW YORK, May 14, 2025 /CNW/ -- In a landmark series of events affirming the rights and dignity of all individuals, stock exchanges around the world are coming together this month for the inaugural Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality initiative. Held in May to support the observance of the long-standing International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), the new initiative underscores a shared global commitment to advancing the equal rights, economic inclusion, and protection of LGBTIQ+ individuals. The initiative convenes a diverse coalition of leaders from stock exchanges, civil society, governments, and market participants to raise awareness of the importance of creating inclusive and equitable economic environments for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression or sex characteristics. Organised by a coalition of global partners all committed to this mission, including the UN Global Compact, UN Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative (UN SSE) and Koppa - The LGBTI+ Economic Power Lab. Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality mirrors the success of similar campaigns, such as the annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality initiative. This marks the first time stock exchanges have collectively sounded the opening or closing bell in a coordinated show of support for the equal rights of LGBTIQ+ people in the workplace and broader society. A Global Unifying Call 15 stock exchanges across 14 countries are taking part in the initiative, including ASX (Australia), Bolsa Mexicana (Mexico), Cboe (USA), Deutsche Börse (Germany), Euronext Group (Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, UK), LSEG (UK), Toronto (Canada). Each exchange has or will be hosting a ceremonial bell ringing accompanied by remarks from exchange leaders, civil society representatives, issuers, investors, and other market participants. These messages emphasize the ongoing need for progress and concrete action to support economic equality and inclusion for all, including LGBTIQ+ individuals. A Powerful Call to Action This global bell-ringing is more than a symbolic gesture - it is a powerful call to action. As institutions and companies work to build more inclusive cultures, Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality aims to catalyze leadership accountability, implement tangible policy improvements such as the promotions of inclusive workplace policies and legal protections, and support meaningful cultural change. "In 2015, just seven pioneering exchanges joined our first Ring the Bell for Gender Equality event and within a few years, it was a global phenomenon involving well over 100 exchanges. So today we're proud to be part of a new annual tradition with a new group of pioneering exchanges who are standing up to support equality and human rights for the LGBTIQ+ community," said Anthony Miller, Chief Coordinator, UN SSE. "Making sure no one faces stigma and discrimination, including in the workplace, is not only the right thing to do – it benefits everyone. We're proud to be partnering with stock exchanges, business and civil society to advance equality and human rights for all – LGBTIQ+ people included!" said Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. "Stigma and discrimination have no place in business or society. The private sector has a clear responsibility to eliminate these barriers, ensuring dignity and equal opportunities for LGBTIQ+ people everywhere. By ringing the bell for LGBTIQ+ equality, stock exchanges and listed companies are sending a powerful signal that inclusion isn't just good ethics—it's good business," said Sanda Ojiambo, CEO and Executive Director, UN Global Compact. "The participation of international stock exchanges in the inaugural 'Ring the Bell for LGBTI Equality' sends a powerful message: the private sector has both a responsibility and an opportunity to advance LGBTI+ rights. Around the world, LGBTI+ people remain disproportionately affected by poverty, and their economic empowerment must be a priority. At Koppa, we believe equality is not just a value — it's an investment in shared prosperity," said Fabrice Houdart, Partner, Koppa: The LGBTI+ Economic Power Lab.
SBS Australia
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
Why Jameela Jamil thinks we have Stockholm syndrome — for the patriarchy
Jameela Jamil's bold advocacy has won her legions of fans — and critics — all over the world. Source: Getty / Jacopo Raule This article contains references to eating disorders. Jameela Jamil is the first to admit she's not perfect. In fact, it's something the English actor, writer, podcaster, and advocate actively embraces. "Women have this pressure that is put upon us — and then we put upon ourselves — that we have to be perfect from the start," she says ahead of her "very fun, very unfiltered" Australian speaking tour. Best known for her roles in The Good Place and Marvel's She-Hulk, Jamil has garnered a loyal following for her direct, passionate, and often humorous commentary on everything from body image, mental health, and gender equality to , disability, and LGBTIQ+ rights. Her anti-perfectionist stance has made her something of a poster girl for it. "I think the reason I've made it quite far in my life for someone who came from nothing and didn't know anyone, had no connections, is because I have the audacity of a man," says Jamil. I have the audacity to know that it's not my responsibility to be perfect when I just start trying something for the first time. "I don't know if I'm going to be good at it, but I throw myself in and I am proud of myself for that." It's an attitude that the 39-year-old credits with giving her a life that's a far cry from the "dignified" one she envisioned when she was younger. A chance encounter with a producer in a London pub in 2008 led Jamil, who was working as an English teacher, to land a job as a TV presenter. She later moved into radio presenting, becoming the first female solo host of BBC Radio 1's Official Chart show, before upping sticks to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. It was there, after securing her first-ever acting role in 2016 as British socialite Tahani Al-Jamil in the hit TV series The Good Place, that she found global fame. But as her profile increased, so did her impulse to speak out. "I don't know how to not say anything," she says. "It doesn't feel like there's a choice whether or not you can say something when you see injustice." Jamil's growing frustration with women's value being measured by a number on the scale led the self-described "feminist-in-progress" to found the I Weigh movement in 2018. "If you want something to change, if you complain about a problem, then surely it would only make sense, logically, to try and do something about it?" she says of her advocacy efforts. Beginning as a social media campaign encouraging people to publicly celebrate their achievements and contributions to society rather than focus on their size or appearance, I Weigh later evolved into a "community allyship platform". It was relaunched last year as Move For Your Mind. While Jamil's unashamed outspokenness and advocacy have been praised by many and led to plaudits such as being named one of Time magazine's 25 most influential people in 2019, she cringes at being put on a pedestal or viewed as "some type of guru or master". It's not a call to arms … I'm more trying to start big, public conversations about [these issues] so we can stop just being lulled into submission all of the time. "It's normal to care. It's not normal to not care." Naturally, there have been questions about whether a statuesque, conventionally attractive cisgender woman (Jamil's name literally means "beautiful" in Arabic) in Hollywood is qualified to speak about issues like diet culture and fatphobia, particularly when much of the associated harm is perpetuated by celebrities and influencers. Jamil acknowledges she is more privileged than most. At the same time, she has experienced firsthand the long-term harm that comes with trying to meet unrealistic and ever-changing beauty standards, as well as how brutally women, particularly those in the public eye, can be treated for simply existing. Early in her career, Jamil was subject to tabloid scrutiny in the UK, which criticised her for being too thin and then later mocked her for gaining weight as a result of medication she was taking. At the same time, she was battling an eating disorder that had developed in her teens, something Jamil says has caused lasting damage to her bone density, digestive system, kidneys, liver, and heart. She says part of the pull to conform to beauty standards stems from an underlying desire to belong. "There's this feeling of 'I'll be left behind if I don't obey the group and do the thing that will allow me to be included,' because it's real that if you are skinnier or you look younger or you have pretty privilege, you're more likely to be included." As well as speaking publicly about the racism, classism and appearance-based abuse she experienced growing up — including being "very violently" bullied for being South Asian — Jamil has been vocal about the impact of multiple chronic health conditions she's experienced throughout her life, such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, mercury poisoning and coeliac disease. Her propensity to be an "open book" about her life has sometimes come back to bite her. In 2020, a string of Instagram posts went viral, alleging Jamil had fabricated details about her injuries and illnesses. The author of the posts even went so far as to suggest Jamil had Munchausen syndrome, a mental disorder in which a person fakes or exaggerates illness to gain attention and sympathy. Jamil publicly refuted the claims, as did her long-term partner, musician James Blake, saying they highlighted how people with chronic health conditions and invisible disabilities are often disbelieved. While Jamil has endured her fair share of trolling and abuse online, not all of the criticism levelled at her has been unjustified. One such example is her past "slut-shaming" of other female celebrities, including Miley Cyrus, Beyonce, and Rihanna. Jamil says she regrets some of the things she's said and how she's said them and takes accountability for that. "But you can regret something and still be glad that you did it because that's how I learned what to do differently next time," she says of how she used to communicate online. "If I hadn't made those mistakes, I wouldn't have then gone on to go, 'Oh, okay, I actually need to change course', and this has made me a better and wiser person." In fact, self-accountability has become a core tenet of Jamil's advocacy. Amid the rise of far-right extremism around the world, infighting among the left, and some hard-won rights and freedoms, particularly for women, "taking a huge backswing", Jamil's belief that "perfection is the enemy of progress" is perhaps more vital than ever. "We don't really have time for everyone to wait to be the perfect feminist or the perfect activist," she says. You just have to scrap in now before we end up in a bunch of red coats with white bonnets. It's no surprise to Jamil that the recent sociopolitical regression, particularly in the US, has coincided with thinness being glamorised once again and the increasing normalisation of and , largely pedalled via social media. Rather, she says, it's "by design". "The only reason any grown adult man would want a grown adult woman to look and behave and have the body of a barely pubescent girl is to keep her small in every way; make sure she's not eating enough so she's not got the strength to fight for her rights, make sure she's consumed and worried and panicking over every tiny 'imperfection' on her face so she's distracted, she doesn't have time to organise; make sure she's not sleeping enough, make sure she's got low self-esteem." But Jamil says she's perplexed why, after so much positive progress around things like fat liberation, body positivity, feminism, and understanding the misogynistic roots of beauty standards, women are still willing to comply. "It's honestly creeped me out watching grown women in 2025 lap it up again as if we learned nothing in the last 10 years," she says while also emphasising she supports people's right to do what they want to their own bodies. "It's like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind happened, and everyone's brains just got wiped of everything that we all collectively discussed, because we have Stockholm syndrome for the patriarchy — and we have to just own that." Jamil, admittedly, isn't entirely immune to the pressure to conform. "There's no way I would wear the dresses I wear if I didn't live with a man that I wanted to sleep with. I would be wearing much more comfortable clothes, I wouldn't wash my hair, I don't think I'd brush my teeth," she says with a laugh. "We're all guilty of it — but to what extent are you willing to punish or risk your body, your life, and your mental and physical health for a patriarchal standard?" The beauty and diet industry will always make sure that you feel like a pig, no matter what you do. The cyclical and, at times dangerous nature of beauty standards is largely why Jamil has sworn off undergoing cosmetic surgery and treatments, such as . Like imperfection, ageing naturally and entering her "crone era" is something she's actively embracing — and hopes to inspire others to do as well. ('Crone era' is a term used in some feminist circles to describe a phase marked by the wisdom of age.) "I want my 85-year-old self to like who I am now. I want her to feel like I was looking out for her, that I was excited for her arrival, and I wasn't dreading it, and doing everything I could to avoid it. "I don't want to preserve youth forever … These wrinkles that I'm getting are ones that have been formed from me frowning and figuring out how f**ked the world is, and I'm glad for them. They're lines of wisdom." With so much heaviness in the world right now, Jamil's focusing her energy on injecting more humour into her work. "Everything's getting too dark. It's too dark. I can't take it anymore. I'm going to explode," she says. Next month, she's launching a new comedy podcast, Wrong Turns, which will feature "some of the funniest people in the world" sharing their "best disaster stories". "Every time you hear about something terrible or embarrassing happening to someone, there's always this need for us to turn it into an inspirational, teachable moment … [but] sometimes you don't get wiser. "Sometimes things are just shit, and we need to accept that and laugh about it." An Evening with Jameela Jamil will take place at Sydney's State Theatre on 26 April, Brisbane's QPAC Concert Hall on 27 April, and Melbourne's Hamer Hall on 28 April. Readers seeking support for body image concerns and eating disorders can contact Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. More information is available at
Arab News
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Belarus committing ‘crimes against humanity': UN investigators
'The government of Belarus has committed widespread human rights violations against the country's civilian population,' a UN group of independent experts said The report said: 'the crime against humanity of persecution on political grounds has been committed against Belarusians perceived as being critical of, or opposed to, the government'GENEVA: Serious human rights violations remain rampant in Belarus, United Nations investigators said Friday, adding that some of the abuses by President Alexander Lukashenko's government amounted to crimes against humanity.'The government of Belarus has committed widespread human rights violations against the country's civilian population, some amounting to crimes against humanity, as part of a brutal effort to quash all opposition' to Lukashenko's rule, a UN group of independent experts said in a its first report since its establishment nearly a year ago, the group said it had documented 'egregious violations,' including widespread torture, and warned that arbitrary arrests and detention on politically motivated grounds had 'become a fixture of the tactics of Belarusian authorities.'Among its conclusions, the report said 'the crime against humanity of persecution on political grounds has been committed against Belarusians perceived as being critical of, or opposed to, the government.'The expert group was created last April by the UN Human Rights Council, and tasked with investigating and establishing 'the facts, circumstances and root causes of all alleged human rights violations and abuses committed in Belarus' since May 1, experts, who are independent and do not speak for the United Nations, were also asked to 'collect, consolidate, preserve and analyze evidence of such violations and abuses and, where possible, to identify those responsible,' to help bring them to was gripped by months of unprecedented anti-government demonstrations after an August 2020 election resulted in a sixth term for Lukashenko — a staunch ally of Russian President Vladimir went on to win a seventh term last month in what critics termed a 'sham election.'The 2020 protests were followed by a brutal UN experts said they conducted nearly 200 interviews in person and remotely with victims, witnesses and others in exile, and examined a large trove of video, photo and other documents for their said they had gathered 'ample evidence' that men and women arrested on politically motivated grounds between 2020 and 2024 'were subjected to torture and ill-treatment at all stages of their detention.'They reported beatings, electric shocks and rape threats against both detainees and their partners.'Security forces displayed marked brutality toward LGBTIQ+ individuals, using physical violence and dehumanizing language,' the experts detained on politically motivated grounds in penal colonies across the country had meanwhile 'described a discriminatory regime of detention designed not only to punish them, but also to crush any form of political resistance,' the report also highlighted how the Belarusian government last year adopted measures that 'purged most potential sources of dissent and opposition,' including through enhanced digital surveillance used to monitor online activities, often leading to year alone, at least 228 civil society organizations were 'liquidated,' it experts called on the Belarusian government to immediately release all those unlawfully or arbitrarily detained, and to promptly launch independent and transparent investigations into all abuses, especially those thought to amount to crimes against the group called on the international community to help ensure accountability for the abuses, including through universal jurisdiction.
