John Browne:

The inclusion of gay people in society has come a long way in 50 years, but businesses can do more

At a recent literary festival in rural England, a couple asked me to sign a copy of The Glass Closet, my book about being open about sexuality in business. They explained that it was a gift for their son, and that they wanted to encourage him to come out. I was taken aback. In some ways, this was a sign of how far Britain has come. When I was their son’s age, the 1967 Sexual Offences Act had only just decriminalised sex between men over the age of 21. It would have been inconceivable for me to discuss this issue with my parents, let alone for them to lead that discussion. But this encounter also demonstrated that the job is not yet done. In Britain today, LGBT people still need support and encouragement to be themselves.

The extraordinary progress made since 1967 is incomplete and fragile. The 50th anniversary of the passage of the 1967 Act comes at a time when the institutions and values that made such progress possible are increasingly vulnerable. Advances in LGBT rights did not happen in isolation. They were part of a broader trend over several decades, towards first the acceptance and then the inclusion of minorities from all segments of society. But that trend is at risk of stalling.

Across western democracies, many people feel that their way of life and their standard of living are under threat. As a result, populism is experiencing a renaissance, bringing with it a rejection of the inclusive values that have underpinned decades of social progress.

This growing vulnerability is compounded by complacency. Just a few years ago, during a break between votes in the House of Lords, I was talking to an academic, a bishop and a politician. I was explaining to them that the following morning I would be speaking at an event about LGBT people in business. They struggled to understand the need for such an event, insisting that in academia, the Church and politics, this “problem” had been solved. That sort of complacency has even led some campaigners to declare victory. In New York, I know of one LGBT rights organisation which recently closed its doors, believing the job to be done.

The history of the 20th century suggests that equality and inclusion are not achievements to be enjoyed, but standards that must be defended. Society can go backwards as well as forwards, particularly when the social and political environment is in flux. Actions to defend progress can come in many forms. In my experience as a gay man, as a business leader, and as the author of The Glass Closet, I can think of three.

First, provide support to organisations that seek to break down the barriers to inclusion. I am a patron of several, including Just Like Us, which trains LGBT volunteers to give talks in schools, and Outstanding, which promotes LGBT executives as role models. There are many others at home and abroad in need of time, advice and funding. Their work can help to create a new cadre of LGBT leaders in business and in public life who can serve as role models, demonstrating that membership of a minority is no barrier to success, and encouraging LGBT people to come out and be included.

At the moment, Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, is the only openly gay chief executive in the S&P 500. This is statistically improbable. At BP, I did not have an openly gay role model, nor did I have the advantage of looking to another chief executive for precedent. Without a gay role model, I failed to be one for others.

Second, make an effective economic case for inclusion. When employees feel included, they are more likely to be fully engaged in their work. Companies with a fully engaged workforce outperform their peers by an average of 2 per cent per year, every year for 20 years. LGBT inclusion is first and foremost a human imperative, but the economic return to an inclusive environment is enormous. People are happier, more productive, and make more money for their company when they are free to be themselves.

Third, leaders need to make an uncompromising commitment to inclusion. This means recognising that inclusion is about more than just tolerance or acceptance; it is about the elimination of exclusionary activity and the active promotion of inclusive activity. When Theresa May tried to reassure her party that its deal with the DUP would not compromise the Conservatives’ policies on LGBT rights, it was reported that one MP referred to the rights of “LGB… and what’s the rest of it?”

While undoubtedly said without malicious intent, this turn of phrase risked sending a damaging signal of exclusion. If the need for inclusion is not taken seriously by those at the top, then it will not survive.

My mother – an Auschwitz survivor – used to warn me that when the going gets tough, minorities are always hurt by the majority.

Her words were born from her own extreme experience, but they remain relevant today. As we celebrate 50 years of progress for LGBT people, it is essential to remember that, even in the most advanced societies, constant vigilance is needed.