Marking IDAHOBLIT in the workplace: taking a stand against discrimination

Lee Israel, Senior Service Manager at Colt Technology Services, spoke to myGwork about why it is increasingly vital for organizations to recognize IDAHOBLIT and to stand up for LGBTQ+ employees against discrimination. Discussing the roles of LGBTQ+ networks and looking to the future of diversity and inclusion, Lee highlights the importance of open-mindedness and education. 

Please introduce yourself and tell us about your role at your organization.   

My name is Lee Israel, I am a Senior Service Manager at Colt Technology Services, and I am also the Global lead for our Pride Matters network.  

What does IDAHOBLIT mean to you?

IDAHOBLIT for me is about shining a focus on raising awareness around the issues that we as a community still face, even in 2024. I like to think of it as full circle event in the sense that we as a community should be able to celebrate who we are but that we do it with a focus on helping to educate those who might not understand and raising awareness around the issues which are still felt as a community.  

How do you mark IDAHOBLIT? Has this differed over the years?     

Professionally we will use internal messaging, internal advertising systems & social media to raise awareness around IDAHOBLIT and why it’s still so very important in today’s world.

Personally, I will be getting together with some friends and raising a glass or two in solidarity with our peers in the community and talking about ways we can all continue to drive this message.

If you have marked it previously, can you please tell us about one of your favorite years?   

The last couple of years a group of my friends and I have come together as a point of respect for the night in question and to openly discuss the ongoing topics and concerns of the time to see if we can personally make an impact.  

Why is IDAHOBLIT important to you?   

It’s important to me because I think there is still so much more work to be done, this is both externally and internally within the community. I am a man in my 40s who has been out and proud since I was 16 and I am still learning more and more all of the time about the continued struggled and prejudice that is faced by the LGBTQI community. It’s a battle which has been fought for decades and it’s far from over.  

What implications do you think IDAHOBLIT has for the wider LGBTQ+ community?   

I hope ultimately that it’s a positive one, highlighting any form of phobia and trying to change minds and educate people can only be a good thing.  

If you could change anything about IDAHOBLIT, what would it be?   

I would aim to drive that the message should be deployed all year round in everything that we do, but not to take away the focus of IDAHOBLIT itself.  

What role can an LGBTQ+ network play in organizing and boosting IDAHOBLIT events?   

A massive role, as the new global lead for the network within my organization, I will 100% be driving more focus on IDAHOBLIT going forward. We have marked IDAHOBLIT in the past but now more than ever we’re keenly aware of the support our transgender colleagues could need and it’s also becoming alarming the new rise in homophobic crimes.  

Why, in your opinion, is it important for organizations to visibly celebrate IDAHOBLIT?  

It’s a crucial element to continuing the discussion and working to change minds and hearts in regard to the LGBTQI community. If we are an inclusive community and organization, then we must drive this message across on a global level.  

What would you like to see next in the journey for LGBTQ+ equality? 

This is a tough one to answer, as I still feel like there is so much more to do. I have always driven inclusion and equality, however now I am personally in much more of a position whereby I can genuinely help drive change. I think for me that’s what we need, we need more people with high profiles and those with some level of influence to help drive the messages of equality forward.