The Human Rights Campaign Foundation Launches New ‘Transgender Workplace Inclusion’ Toolkit for Mexican Businesses

by Aryn Fields •

WASHINGTON — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, in partnership with PepsiCo and Baker McKenzie, launched a first-of-its-kind resource in Mexico to help businesses advance inclusive policies and practices for transgender and nonbinary employees, titled “Transgender Workplace Inclusion: A toolkit for employers and businesses in Mexico.” Modeled after HRC Foundation’s Trans toolkit for Employers, this resource is tailored to assist employers address the existing gap between employers and policies and practices related to transgender and nonbinary workplace inclusion in Mexico.

It is critical to a person’s self-worth to be able to show the world who they are—that includes authentically showing up to the workplace. The transgender community is disproportionately impacted by workplace discrimination and retaliation, especially transgender people of color, which is why this toolkit has the power to be a real game-changer in the day-to-day lives of the Mexican transgender community."

Alphonso David, Human Rights Campaign President

After years of working with Mexico’s top employers and multinational corporations through HRC Equidad MX, a benchmarking survey evaluating LGBTQ workplace inclusion, the program expanded in order to address the additional challenges transgender and nonbinary employees experience to live and work authentically. The toolkit provides a comprehensive overview of the practical guidance and legal framework required to create an inclusive workplace for transgender and nonbinary employees by exploring best practices and protections related to transgender and nonbinary inclusion; tools, guidelines and procedures for businesses; and a review of the civil code, federal, state and regional protections.

There is a vibrant, beautiful transgender and nonbinary community in Mexico that, for the most part, lack workplace protections and safeguards—this resource aims to course correct that. We are grateful to our partners, The Human Rights Campaign, PepsiCo, and Baker McKenzie for their hard work on this project and dedication to ensuring a more inclusive working environment for those who need it the most."

Francisco Robledo and Fernando Velázquez, HRC Equidad MX Implementing Partners

The toolkit informs corporate decision-makers, Human Resources and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practitioners about the discrimination and inequities transitioning employees face and essential workplace best practices. In addition to partnering with PepsiCo and Baker McKenzie on this resource, HRC Equidad MX coordinated the newly-created “Business Council for Transgender Inclusion,” comprised of 13 openly transgender and nonbinary professionals working at top businesses in Mexico, who guided the project and provided essential feedback to validate the accuracy and usefulness of the recommendations and internal guidelines.

To reinforce our commitment to the trans community, since 2020 we have implemented an internal protocol that allows us to attend our colleagues in a personalized way, under the highest international human rights standards. Thanks to this project led by HRC Equidad MX and Baker McKenzie, now those processes will be freely consulted through this manual, so any company in Mexico can adopt the same vision. This way, we continue to strengthen our diversity and inclusion agenda."

Alina Hernández, Communications & Citizenship Senior Director, PepsiCo LatAm

At Baker McKenzie we are not neutral; we are committed to promoting a culture of respect and inclusion within the firm, as well as with our stakeholders. We thank HRC, PepsiCo and the trans advisory council for the opportunity to have worked as a team in favor of a common goal for many organizations. We are very proud to have contributed to this important project that represents a great advance for the trans community and for employers in Mexico."

Raymundo Enríquez, Managing Partner of Baker McKenzie in Mexico

In December 2020, HRC launched its fourth annual HRC Equidad MX: Programa Global de Equidad Laboral, in the report 212 employers earned top ratings in the 2021 HRC Equidad MX report, a 77% increase over the previous year’s total of 120, reflecting a growing commitment in Mexico to creating LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices in their workplaces.

The groundbreaking progress and overall success of HRC Equidad MX is reflected in the rapidly-growing number of companies participating in the survey, and achieving top ratings for LGBTQ workplace equality. In the survey’s inaugural year, 32 companies in Mexico, including PEMEX, one of the largest employers in Latin America, earned top ratings. That number jumped to 69 companies in 2019, 120 in the 2020 survey, and 212 for the 2021 survey–-including 83 that are based in Mexico. HRC Equidad MX seeks to continue to expand this network of inclusive employers throughout Mexico.

For more information on HRC Equidad MX, please click here.

The Human Rights Campaign reports on news, events and resources of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation that are of interest to the general public and further our common mission to support the LGBTQ community.

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