Together we can shatter the rainbow ceiling

As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community and the chief human resources officer at Casumo, Pride Month means more than parades and parties to me. It’s a time to celebrate, reflect on the long way we have come and remind ourselves of the ongoing fight for equality.

Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s in the Bavarian countryside, LGBTQ+ was nowhere to be publicly seen, accepted or celebrated around me. Role models only existed on TV, where the LGBTQ+ community was portrayed as a living stereotype. Yes, it was a start that helped bring awareness about our existence to every living room, but the characters were far away from the real-world role models one would have wished for. If you are from the LGBTQ+ community yourself or if you are a close ally, you will understand the weird conversations we have to have with strangers about ourselves and the struggles to “fit in”.

As always in life, we learn from our successes but, even more importantly, we learn through our struggles. Those experiences and struggles make our perspectives and insights unique, enabling us to challenge stereotypes and the status quo, spark innovation and help us connect with the people around us.

As Pride and LGBTQ+ topics have become increasingly popular and mainstream during the past few years, the negative voices have also become louder and louder, challenging the need to give us so much attention. I want to remind you that even though the LGBTQ+ community is a minority, we are a significant part of society – it is estimated that 5% to 9% of adults identify as LGBTQ+, with an even higher proportion among younger generations where some estimates go up to 20%.

Even though visibility has improved and our societies have come a long way since the 1990s, still today, LGBTQ+ representation in leadership roles remains disproportionately low, highlighting the existence of a ‘rainbow ceiling’. According to a 2022 survey by global LGBTQ+ business platform Out Leadership, in the US, only 0.4% of senior leadership positions at Fortune 500 companies are held by LGBTQ+ individuals. Europe doesn’t fare much better; a 2020 EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) survey found that nearly 21% of LGBTQ+ respondents reported feeling discriminated against in the workplace, often facing barriers to career advancement.

This absence of role models and acceptance has shocking consequences that go far beyond ‘climbing the career ladder’. Young LGBTQ+ individuals are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. The Trevor Project’s ‘2023 US National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People’ found that 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, including roughly half of transgender and non-binary youth. These numbers are from societies that are seen as inclusive and advanced. Let this sink in for a moment and imagine how it may look in less advanced parts of the world where LGBTQ+ individuals still risk imprisonment and even the death penalty for simply being themselves.

Being heard

But, unlike when I was growing up, we can see more and more LGBTQ+ individuals in leadership positions who act as role models and reinforce the belief that our voices matter and we have a valuable contribution to make. This development gives hope and confidence to younger generations, showing them that they can achieve their dreams and aspirations regardless of who they love or how they identify.

Pride Month is a reminder that our work is far from over. While we celebrate our progress, we must acknowledge the disparities and the ‘rainbow ceilings’ that persist in our organisations. As LGBTQ+ or non-LGBTQ+ leaders, together, we must continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ and equality rights, challenge discriminatory practices and create workplace cultures where everyone feels safe and empowered to be themselves. At Casumo, we’re committed to doing our part. We provide LGBTQ+ training and employee resource groups to foster a culture of belonging and support.

This Pride Month, I invite everyone to reflect on the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion. It’s not just about celebrating diversity; it’s about creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to reach their full potential. By embracing our differences, dismantling the rainbow ceiling, and championing representation for all, we build stronger, more vibrant companies and contribute to a more inclusive and equitable world for everyone.

For over 15 years, Martin Schillig has been a driving force in shaping engaging, inclusive and high-performing workplaces within the igaming industry. As chief human resources officer at Casumo, he champions a culture of empowerment, inclusion and innovation. Schillig’s career includes senior HR roles at industry pioneers Raketech, Betsson and Tipico, where he delivered strategic HR solutions in fast-paced, high-growth environments. His expertise lies in developing talent strategies that align with business goals, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, and creating workplaces where people can thrive and make a real impact.