Qantas’ Chief Executive, Alan Joyce, is urging more LGBT business leaders to be open and honest about their sexual orientation in order to encourage tolerance and diversity around world.
Speaking at a conference in Hong Kong, the Flying Kangaroo’s boss said more awareness is needed to build an accepting society whereby lesbian, gay, bisexuals and transgender people can live and work without the feeling of discrimination.
His comments come ahead of this week’s big Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and was made in response to reports of increasing homophobia in East Asia, The Southern China Modern Post reported.
“It is very critical that we make sure people recognise that they know LGBT people.”
Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO
Joyce, who often promotes diversity in the workplace, said he’s passionate about encouraging LGBT business leaders to be open about their sexuality because it’s becoming increasingly “important”.
“There should be more people like Apple’s Tim Cook and Paul Zahra, the former CEO of Australia’s David Jones [retail chain].”
Alan Joyce, Qantas CEO
Joyce isn’t the only tourism boss stepping out to support diversity this week, with a number of destination and hotel organisations publicly pledged their support for the LGBT community days before the Mardi Gras.
Among them is Hotels.com’s Vice President Asia-Pacific, Abhiram Chowdhry, who said as an accommodation website the company understands that “love and life comes in all shapes and sizes” and supports the right of its employees to live “in an environment free of prejudice and discrimination and enjoy the same freedoms that opposite-sex couples enjoy”.
Tourism Ireland is showing its commitment to the community by hosting one of the largest floats at this year’s parade featuring over 140 dancers. Plus Pullman Sydney Hyde Park will host a special VIP event for the industry and media on Saturday. Read more.
