Hong Kong banks lead way in forging path for sexual minorities in the workplace

Hong Kong banks are stepping up efforts to promote workplace inclusion for sexual minorities, as the city’s protections for LGBT individuals continue to fall short.

With the aim of supporting LGBT employees in the financial services industry, the Hong Kong LGBT Interbank Forum was officially launched on Thursday. Informally established in 2006, the forum coordinates activities, facilitates discussions and shares practices and resources among its 25 member and observer firms, as well as sponsors’ community organisations.

“A lot of companies in Asia have yet to grasp the commercial value of diversity and inclusion,” said Celine Tan, co-chair of the forum and vice-president of Asia Prime Brokerage at J.P. Morgan. “Our mission is to be the leading forum to discuss LGBT issues.”

Although the finance industry in Hong Kong is fairly tolerant when it comes to sexual minorities, there is still a culture of “don’t ask, don’t tell”, Tan said. Having worked in the corporate sector for 10 years, she came out openly as a lesbian six years back.

“I did miss opportunities. I did hold myself back. At one point I got frustrated and I was very down. It was a combination of self-doubt and the fear and concern of the double glass ceiling,” Tan said, referring to the glass ceiling for women and for sexual minorities within the sector. “I came out and found out that it’s actually a lot better for myself. I’m more authentic, I’m happier.”