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Released today!

Open For Business released its first Impact Report. The report provides in depth descriptions of how we have been working with our coalition partners to advance LGBT+ rights around the world. You can download the report here.

There is a lot to be proud of in the report. As a coalition, we have made an impact on LGBT+ rights in a number of challenging countries on just about every continent. Please take a moment to appreciate the work your companies are doing to show that businesses can create an LGBT+ inclusive world. We have recognized eight Equality Champions for going above and beyond. They are Accenture, BCG, Brunswick, Deutsche Bank, GSK, IBM, Microsoft and Virgin.

There is also a lot more to be done. This year we are working to accelerate our Local Influencer Programs in East Africa, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean and Asia Pacific, as well as provide research and platforms for all of our coalition partners to take action for LGBT+ rights.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Please don't hesitate to reach out any time. 

Best
Drew

drew.keller@open-for-business.org 
 

Get in touch!

Webinar: Bringing an LGBT+ lens to the world of investing

Tuesday 6 October 2020 | 11:00 ET / 16:00 BST  

The Economic Case for LGBT+ Equality

We are pleased to invite you to a webinar with Dr. M. V. Lee Badgett, one of the world''s leading experts on the economic case for LGBT+ equality and a member of our Research Advisory Board. Last month. Dr. Badgett released her new book, The Economic Case for LGBTQ Equality.

Join us on 30 June at 10am ET / 3pm UK time to hear from Dr. Badgett about her book. We''ll discuss the data that her work is based on, what more is needed to continue making the economic case, and how businesses can play a role in the process.

Register here

The Economic Case for LGBT+ Equality

Hi there,

The previous email contains a broken link to register for this webinar. Many apologies for the mistake! Here is the correct link to register: 
https://brunswickgroup.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2FchXZ6FSrqnQrTvX47WtA

Have a great Monday!
--
We are pleased to invite you to a webinar with Dr. M. V. Lee Badgett, one of the world''s leading experts on the economic case for LGBT+ equality and a member of our Research Advisory Board. Last month. Dr. Badgett released her new book, The Economic Case for LGBTQ Equality.

Join us on 30 June at 10am ET / 3pm UK time to hear from Dr. Badgett about her book. We''ll discuss the data that her work is based on, what more is needed to continue making the economic case, and how businesses can play a role in the process.

Register here

Introducing our new Executive Director

Kathryn joins us with a wealth of knowledge and experience helping businesses respect human rights around the world. You can view her welcome video here. Her impressive list of accomplishments includes:

• Working with 48 governments on promoting responsible business conduct at the OECD
• Co-founding the Global Business Initiative on Human Rights, an organisation of major multinational companies from diverse industries to share understanding and implement the UN Guiding Principles on business and human rights
• Providing responsible business conduct expertise to governments, business and civil society in a wide range of countries including Brazil, China, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, India, Jordan, Liberia, Myanmar and Russia
• Working with Human Rights Watch in Russia for a year investigating the impacts of the predecessor to the iniquitous propaganda law on LGBT+ people
• Being recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2014

Kathryn will be based in London and will lead Open For Business as we continue to develop a strong economic case for LGBT+ rights and empower businesses to take action to create a more equal world. Her email is kdovey@open-for-business.org. 

Please feel free to reach out to Kathryn and welcome her to the coalition!

Inequality: A ticking time-bomb for business?
Thursday 23rd July 2020 | 15:00 BST / 10:00 EDT

The Open For Business City Ratings 2020
How does your city compare?

What does LGBT+ inclusion have to do with urban economic competitiveness and resilience? Data in our new report, Open For Business City Ratings 2020, shows that LGBT+ inclusion could be a key ingredient for cities as they strive to be more economically competitive and resilient. This is especially important now as cities around the world are working to respond to the economic toll taken by the COVID-19 pandemic. Click the image below to read the report.

In collaboration with Accenture and Brunswick Group, the report also provides the updated Open For Business City Ratings - a guide to which cities are open, inclusive and competitive and which are not. 144 cities from across the world receive a credit-style rating from AAA to E, clearly showing how prepared they are for sustainable and inclusive economic growth. You can explore the City Ratings on a dynamic map here, and on the table below.

We also dig into some of the most interesting trends in each region. For example: 

• What cities are driving the strong progress in Asia Pacific? 
• Is South Africa''s poor performance cause for concern? 
• How are different cities trending in Central and Eastern Europe? 
• What makes Amsterdam this year''s top-scoring city? 

Best
Drew

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