Over 200 people, including C-level representatives from Mindshare UK, Wavemaker, Wunderman Thompson UK, The &Partnership and m/SiX, WACL, Grey and Creature are calling for action on queer female inclusion in advertising.
Our Open Letter, published today in Campaign magazine can be read in full below and began life from honest and open discussions that took place on International Women’s Day in March.
There are still many barriers for non-binary and queer women working in our industry to feel included and safe. Our letter calls on everyone, but especially those with power, to dismantle these barriers using the work we create and workplaces we are a part of.
We are committed to driving change. We hope that on reading our letter you are too.
People of our industry,
Have you ever noticed that there are more openly out LGBTQ+ men in your workplace than LGBTQ+ women?
Have you ever wondered why that might be?
It isn’t because there are fewer LGBTQ+ women.
It’s because fewer LGBTQ+ women are out at work.
Queer women are one of the least represented groups in our industry.
With so many negative stereotypes still being portrayed in the media and society, it’s no wonder that queer women are also almost twice as likely as queer men to stay in the closet at work (Pride Matters Survey, 2018).
In an age where we should feel comfortable being our most authentic selves at work, it is clear that many queer women do not feel comfortable at all.
And that is simply not good enough.
As members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s our mission to change this. Queer women should not only feel like they belong in our industry, but they should feel like they can thrive. So on 11th March 2021, we came together as LGBTQ+ women and allies. We shared our stories, our struggles and our diverse perspectives.
And we shared solutions—that we can’t implement on our own.
Which is why we’re asking you, at every level of every communications agency, to take action and hold ourselves and each other accountable in the following ten ways:
To stop using stereotypical images and cliches that portray queer women negatively.
To never disclose that a colleague is LGBTQ+ in the workplace without their permission.
To create safe and inclusive workspaces and events to help queer women feel included and supported to come out.
To call out any microaggressions overheard in the workplace and report if necessary.
To work with media publications that are actively inclusive of queer women (Curve & Diva are notable examples).
To support more research and insight into queer women to better understand this group and their attitudes and beliefs, ensuring that ‘lesbian’ is listed in a separate category to ‘gay’ in surveys to achieve a more accurate representation of ‘L’.
To establish and monitor company KPIs specific to supporting queer women, especially around recruitment and progression.
To stand in solidarity to support transgender women and those who identify as non-binary.
To actively support the promotion of queer female and non-binary role models within the communications industry.
To represent at every level, within employee network groups—appointing more queer women as co-chairs—and most importantly, on our leadership teams: welcome, champion, and celebrate queer women.
We, the signatories of this letter, commit to making our industry more welcome, open and inclusive for all, and we ask you to join us.
Signed by:
Abi Ravichandiran, Reckitt, Global Search Lead
Adam Cochrane
Adam Russell, Essence, EVP, Global Client Partner
Alejandra Garcia, Essence, Analytics Supervisor
Alex Barber, Common Good Company, Co-Founder
Alex Mullins I
Alexander Meadows-Rocks, Landor & Fitch, PA
Alexandra Bousquet-Chavanne
Alicia Pulver, Essence, Client Director
Ally Chapman, Havas, Strategy Director
Amy Durrant, Bold Strokes Ltd, Creative Lead
Andrew Kinnersley, Essence, Analytics Associate Director
Angharad Planells, Radioactive PR, Head of business development and culture
Angie Gola-Ebue, Intermediary, Founder
Anjali Oldfield, HR Director
Anna Brent, Across the Pond, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Executive Producer
Anna Brown, The Thread Team, Business Director
Anna Hickey, Wavemaker, Global Client President
Ant Delany, Makerhouse (WPP), Managing Director, EU
Ant Jackson, Wunderman Thompson, Senior Copywriter
Arthur Jones, ATG, Head of Production Marketing
Asad Dhunna, The Unmistakables, CEO
Betty Ward, Havas Lynx, Operations Executive
Camille Bouyer, AnalogFolk, Junior Designer
Carolyn Bondi, The Thread Team, Founding Partner
Carolyn Bondi, The Thread Team, Director
Casey Sheehan, Grey, Account Executive
Catherine Whiterow, Essence, Content & Innovation Manager
Celeste Dalairac, Grey, Executive Creative Director
Charlotte Davis, m/SIX, Marketing and New business manager
Charlotte Schreurs
Charlotte Scott, Grey London, Business Director
Chelsea Jackson, WPP, Global Racial Equity Operations Manager
Chloe Wong, m/SIX, Audience Planner
Chris Dunne, Thinkbox, Head of Marketing
Chris Dunne, Thinkbox, Head of Marketing
Daisy Bard, Grey, Creative
Dan Cullen-Shute, Creature, CEO
David Clasen, Outvertising, Co-director of Finance
Devin O'Loughlin, RAPP Worldwide, Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion & Communications Officer / Global Chairperson, Omnicom OPEN Pride
Devon Douieb, Versus Arthritis, Social Media Officer
Dimitar Nikolov, Essence, Media Activation Director
Dominic Williams, Essence
Donal Keenan, D&AD, Awards Director
Dylan Mouratsing, m/SIX, Global Head of Data Strategy
Edward Gregson, FCB, Art Director
Efrain Ayala, Reckitt
Eleanor Matthews, TBWA World Health, Senior Copywriter
Emily Smith, Kinetic, Account Manager
Emiro Mendoza, Outvertising, Co-Director Events
Emma Louise Hansen
Emma Saddleton, dentsu, Strategy Partner
Emma Wilson-Hill, Wunderman Thompson MSC, Video Editor
Eske van Egerschot, H+K Strategies, Communications Director
Euan Brown, Virgin Red, Head of Digital & Social
Eva Bashford-harrison, Superunion, Designer
Eva Schabbach, Just Eat Takeaway
Filipe Zuluaga, Teamspirit, Analyst
Francesca Coia, Republic of Media Ltd, Digital Media Manager
Francesca Stracqualursi, Museum of Brands Packaging and Advertising, Head of Commercial Events
Gillian Beerman, DraftLine, Associate Producer
Giulyanna Loureiro, Dennis Publishing, Digital Project Manager
Guy Duncan, Brand Equality, Founding Director
Hananha Willers, Grey London, Producer
Hannah Lane, Producer
Hannah Robbins, Firefish, Senior Cultural Strategist
Harriet Wiltshire, Karmarama, Creative
Harriette Hanson, Grey London, Account Director
Hiran Adhia, Landor & Fitch, Senior Client Manager
Huw Morris, Lee &Thompson LLP, Partner - Advertising & Marketing
Igor Tolkachev, Shopify, Agency Partnerships
Ingo Duckerschein, Taboola, Regional Director, Central & Eastern Europe
Ivan Palmer, Grey Social, Director
Jack Swayne, m/SIX, CEO
Jack Tanner, Ogilvy | Social Lab, Creative Copywriter
Jackie Stevenson, WACL, President
Jacob Niedzwiecki, Essence Global
James Addison, Forpeople, Associate Director
James Kenrick, Grey London, Account Manager
James Maxwell, Teamspirit, ECD
Jamie Fleming, Essence, Media Activation Executive
Jem Lloyd-Williams, Mindshare UK, CEO
Jeng Au, Amazon, Art Director
Jenni Evans, Born Social, Senior New Business Manager
Jennifer La, Grey Social, Senior Social Media Manager
Jenny Biggam, the7stars, Founder
Jenny Cohan, Dennis Publishing, Product Manager
Jerry Daykin, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Senior Media Director
Jess Fleming, WPP, EA to Toby Hoare + WPP Unilever Team Manager + UNITE, WPP's LGBTQ+ Community Operations & Logistics
Jessica Lee, The Thread Team, SAM
Jessica Lenehan, Essence, VP, Client Partner
Jessica Metcalfe, MFuse, Senior planner
Jim Mccaffery, Outcast, Copywriter
Jiya Asokan, Verticurl Marketing Pvt Ltd, HR Executive
Jo Preston, Teamspirit, Group Board Director
Joanne Henderson, Grey London, Client FD
Joe Hoppard, RAPP UK, Strategy Partner
John D'Arcy, GTB, Managing Partner, Analytics
John Davidson, Kinetic UK, Chief Operating Officer
John Lyons, The NDL Group, Sales & Marketing Director
Jonathan Ayala, Essence, Analyst
Jonathan Palmer, Outvertising, Co-Director Training & Development
Jonathan Palmer, Trouble Maker, Comms Strategy Director
Julie Cohen, Across the Pond, CEO
Julie Zerlang, Wunderman Thompson, Project Manager
June Yeoh, GroupM, Regional APAC Director
Kate Armishaw, Grey London, Account Director
Kate Browne, Essence Global, VP, Business Operations
Katie Cook, Wavemaker Worldwide, Global Client Director
Katie Whittam-Hayes, Five by Five Global / Lawton Communications Group Ltd, Group HR Director
Katie Whittam-Hayes, Five by Five Ltd, part for Lawton Communications Group Ltd, Group HR Director
Katrina Hedditch, Ogilvy, Project Manager
Kevin Tewis-Allen, Preen, Managing Director
Kirsty Clegg
Klaus Bockholt, Essence, Head of Country Management
Kostie Kontorravdis, AnalogFolk, Creative
Kyoko Adachi, Essence, Strategy Director
Laura Inker, Landor & Fitch, Client Manager
Laura Jordan Bambach, Grey, President & CCO
Lawrence Hunt, Essence, Planning Account Director
Lee Beattie, John Doe Group, CEO
Lee Manton, Outvertising, Board Director & Creative Director
Liam Rezende Outvertising, Co-Director Communications
Lily Holt
Lily Wadsworth, GSK, Brand Manager
Lina Obregón, Wunderman Thompson, Ejecutiva de cuenta
Lindsay Jackson, Mindshare Media UK Limited, Chief People Officer
Lizzy Davis, Analogfolk, Designer
Louis Persent, Outvertising, Co-Director Communications
Louise Newton, Grey London, EA
Lucy McKillop, Outvertising, Joint CEO
Lucy Rennie, Consultant, Strategy Director
Lucy Sabelnikova, Essence, Business Intelligence Developer
Luke Tutt, Autovia Limited, Marketing Manager
Lukeisha Paul, GroupM, Head of Diversity Equity & Inclusion
Marcus Brown, The Great Pitch Company, CEO
Marie Hughes, Grey, Senior Producer
Mark Runacus MBE, Outvertising, Joint CEO
Mark Thistlewood, Crohn's & Colitis UK, Brand officer
Marty Davies, Smarty Pants Consultancy, Founding Director
Matthew Chew, MediaCom, Paid Social Manager
Mayur Varma, 82.5 Communications, ECD
Melody Meacher-Jones
Michelle Jacques, Octopus Farm, Director
Micky Tudor. The & Partnership, ECD
Mik Levin, Essence, Associate Director
Mike Pantelides, Senior Copywriter
Miles Zilesnick
Montserrat Tojeiro, Teamspirit, Managing Director
Mr Stafferton-Barber, Common Good Company, Co-Founder
Nancy O'Connor, School of Communication Arts 2.0
Naomi Taylor, Grey, Creative
Natalie Joseph-Lowry, Wireless, Head of Digital Trading
Neil Hopkins, Freelance Consultant
Nicholas Banbury, BanCoe Consulting Ltd, Director
Nina Aguilar, Essence, Media Planning Manager
Nishita Upadhyay, VCCP, Senior Integrated Producer
Olivia Clarkson, Grey, Director of Connected Culture
Orla Reaper-Reynolds, Core, Client Director
Paul Confrey, GTB, President, EU
Paul Dazeley, TMW Unlimited, Strategy Director
Paul Hewitt, Google, Freelance Creative Lead
Peter Reeves, Dennis Publishing, Product Manager
Pip Hulbert, Wunderman Thompson, CEO UK
Pollyanna Ward
Rachel Barber, Creating Stories Ltd, Director
Rachel Cawley, Essence, Director, Media Planning
Rachel Cook, Thompson, Director
Rebecca Marchant, The Brooklyn Brothers, Social Director
Remy Le Mentec, Dennis Publishing, Marketing Manager
Rob Gray, Grey LDN, Account Director
Robin Mitchell, The Brooklyn Brothers Limited, Finance Director
Robyn Frost, TBWA\Chiat\Day, Sr Art Director
Rochelle Ryan, VaynerMedia, Assoc. Director, HR
Sam Lewis, The And Partnership Worldwide, Managing Director
Sandy Downs, Teamspirit, Head of Diversity & Account Director
Sanjana Shirke, GroupM Media India, Head of Talent Management, India
Sarah Clark, The&Partnership, Managing Director
Sarah Golding, The&Partnership, CEO and Partner
Sarah Ismail, Essence, Client Director
Sebastian Martínez, Wunderman Thompson, Business Strategist
Sherifa Benjamin-Ifill, Essence, Head of Production
Sheryl Agyemang, Sky, Media Planner
Sonam Lakhani, VCCP Business, People Partner
Sophie Cohen, Essence, Media Activation Executive
Sophie Gadd, The LEGO Group, Creative
Sophie Kozlowski-Dormon, Sophie Writes Copy Limited, Copywriter
Sophie Sheard, Team Spirit, Account Manager
Stephen Lynch, Havas London, Senior Creative
Stephen Palin, Taboola, Director, Sales
Stephen Renou, Barrows Global, Strategic Director
Steve Wheen, distillery, Founder/CEO
Steven Bull, m/SIX, Credit Manager
Talia Osler, Essence
Tanner Davis, TikTok, Product Marketing Manager
Terry ONeill, Grey, Senior Creative / CD
Tess Alps, ASA, Council Member
Theo Erasmus, C-90, Head of Strategy
Thom Binding, Essence, Head of Creative Strategy
Thomas Nyiri, NABS, Head Of Partnerships
Tim Glister, Teamspirit, Creative Director
Toby Hoare, WPP, Global Client Leader
Toby Jenner, Wavemaker, Global CEO
Tom Ollerton, Automated Creative, Founder
Tracey Barber, The Brooklyn Brothers, Global head of brand
Trak Ellis-Hill, Momentum, Creative Partner
Victoria Fichaut, Essence, Producer
Wega Bratsch, Essence, Business Director, Client Services
Wendy Watherston, Teamspirit, Director
Xavier Cookson-Edwards, Hogarth Worldwide, Senior Account Manager
Xavier Totor, Essence, Senior Global Internal Communications Manager
Zanthi Galiatsatos, Connectit Networks | Cōv communications, Marketing Communications Director
Zoe Bowen-Jones, Wavemaker, Insights Director
Zoe Conning, Amplo Lettings, Director
Zoe Miranda, Teamspirit, Head of Social
Zoe Scaman, Bodacious, Founder