New LGBTQI networking groups aim to reduce stigma for community in property and construction industries

It’s been two years since Australia legalised same-sex marriage, yet for many in the LGBTQI community, the struggle for acceptance remains.

Though few anticipated same-sex marriage to be a panacea for the community, many still fear being accepted at work – particularly in traditionally “blokey” industries like property and construction.

To that end, two new networking groups to help LGBTQI people in those industries have recently launched.

Schiavello director and NSW state manager Christopher Schiavello, who co-created networking group Interbuild for staff, employers and allies, said it was important to examine how many people within the industries identified as LGBTQI and “how many people are we losing from the way we conduct ourselves”.

“The construction industry is not known for being progressive for the people it has in it,” Mr Schiavello said. “We often talk about trying to get the best people into organisations and industry: what’s really important is if we’re trying to get the best out of our people and the best potential people, are we creating an environment that people want to come and work in?”

Removing stigma is one of the key aims of the network, as well as pushing to make construction and property one of the most progressive industries. This was important, he said, because it was difficult to encourage people to bring their best selves to work if they were not able to be their true selves at work.

“We’re seeing the rise of mental health issues in construction. One of the reasons, I honestly believe, for that is that we are not creating enough environments to talk,” Mr Schiavello said.

The ultimate aim of the group, he said, was to try to remove the stigma within the industry attached to LGBTQI people – who could think negatively about it and as somewhere they often did not want to work.

While Interbuild is primarily based in Sydney at this stage, its first Melbourne meeting was held earlier this month and Mr Schiavello hopes to continue its expansion in other cities next year.

Also recently launched is the Melbourne-based Queers in Property, which aims to promote visibility of, and connections between, the LGBTQI community within the industry in a bid to push visibility and empowerment.

The group will meet regularly with events to bring the community together to network and explore opportunities informally, noting that property is largely heteronormative and many LGBTQI people working in it struggle with acceptance.

Mr Schiavello said companies could help by simply having a positive conversation about it.

“The behaviour you’re willing to walk by is behaviour you’re willing to accept,” he said. “That behaviour will identify how inclusive [a business] actually is.

“It’s a good feeling to talk in front of people and be confident in your skin and tell your story. If we expect our people to behave in a particular way, that needs to extend to clients, contractors and everyone else.

“It’s amazing how much power the big companies have in getting the voice out there.”

Interested LGBTQI people are encouraged to contact Interbuild and Queers in Property for further information.