Pathology to Pride: why LGBTQI+ inclusion matters

Inclusion is not only a cultural priority. It helps shape psychologically safe workplaces where people feel respected, supported and able to perform at their best.

Understanding the history of LGBTQI+ inclusion helps explain why belonging, mental wellbeing and workplace culture are so closely connected today.

Many identities now recognised as part of human diversity were once wrongly labelled as disorders. That history still shapes how stigma shows up in workplaces and across society.

For employers, that makes inclusion more than a values statement. It is a practical way to build trust, safety and belonging at work.

When difference was treated as disorderUntil relatively recently, aspects of human identity were medicalised and labelled as dysfunction. Homosexuality, for example, was listed as a mental disorder in the first edition of the DSM in 1952.

That changed in 1973, when the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the DSM and recognised it as a natural variation of human sexuality rather than a disorder.

Before that change, many LGBTQI+ people were subjected to harmful and stigmatising treatments that were not grounded in evidence.

Treating LGBTQI+ identities as illness reinforced discrimination across society, including workplaces where traditional gender and social norms were often expected. The formal diagnosis may have changed, but stigma can persist long after institutions do.

Why this still mattersStigma changes over time, but it does not disappear on its own. That is why continued awareness, education and action still matter.

Being LGBTQI+ is not a mental health condition. But stigma, exclusion and pressure to hide identity can contribute to stress, reduced wellbeing and lower engagement at work. In high-performance environments, these pressures can also make it harder for people to seek support.

Inclusive workplaces support mental wellbeing by building trust, respect and a genuine sense of belonging.
About 4.5% of Australians aged 16 and over identify as LGBTQI+ - around 900,000 people nationally.
74.5% of LGB+ Australians have experienced a mental disorder at some point in their lives, compared with 41.7% of heterosexual Australians.

What can our industry can do to support LGBTQI+ inclusion?

• Demonstrate visible leadership support for LGBTQI+ inclusion
• Review policies, systems and everyday language to remove barriers
• Back employee networks and create spaces where people feel safe to contribute
• Encourage participation in DEI learning, events and industry initiatives
• Set a clear expectation that discrimination, exclusion and harassment will not be tolerated
• Creating inclusive workplaces is an ongoing responsibility. Small, visible actions across leadership, policy and culture can make a meaningful difference to wellbeing, retention and performance across our industry.

References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (27.02.2024), Mental health findings for LGBTQ+ Australians, National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2020-2022 | Australian Bureau of Statistics

King, M (11.07.2019) Cambridge University Press (11.07.2018) Stigma in psychiatry seen through the lens of sexuality and gender | BJPsych International | Cambridge Core

EBSCO (2022), APA Classifies Homosexuality as a Mental Disorder | Social Sciences and Humanities | Research Starters | EBSCO Research, Authored by Burbidge, Christy

EBSCO (2022) Homosexuality Is Delisted by the APA | Social Sciences and Humanities | Research Starters | EBSCO Research Authored by Pope, Mark

Nature Reviews Psychology (07.03.2022) Integrating time into stigma and health research | Nature Reviews Psychology Valerie A. Earnshaw, Ryan J. Watson, Lisa A. Eaton, Natalie M. Brousseau, Jean-Philippe Laurenceau & Annie B. Fox.

PubMed (19.10. 2012)  Women And Hysteria In The History Of Mental Health - PMC Cecilia Tasca, Mariangela Rapetti, Mauro Giovanni Carta, Bianca Fadda.

SpringerLink(21.04.2020) Social stigma is an underestimated contributing factor to unemployment in people with mental illness or mental health issues: position paper and future directions | BMC Psychology | Springer Nature Link