“The LGBTQ+ identity is a serious commitment, and we are dedicated to stand with pride and dignity in support of a community whose discrimination has often been overlooked, ignored, and under reported.”
- Tim Forbess, President & Founder, The G.F. Bailey Company
We asked Tim: What do you believe the formula is for addressing LGBTQ+ issues within the legal industry while maintaining a solid, inclusive community that brings all of us together?
A key formula is knowing that discrimination is easily tailored and nuanced. The lived experience of LGBTQ+ is emotionally and cognitively different than that of our straight counterparts. The legal industry, when engaged with the LGBTQ+ community, provides both counsel and safeguards for individuals and LGBTQ+ business owners. For the industry itself, I believe having senior leadership who is LGBTQ+ is vital and promoting a welcoming and affirming environment is essential. It's key to remember that those calling for your services from the LGBTQ+ community need to know and fully believe that you have our back -- you are truly looking out for us. For many of us, that commitment has been hard to come by. This is why I chose Sam Brinker, who led me to the incredible experience that I've had at Dinsmore.
How is your company internally working to become more strategic and collaborative to make equity for LGBTQ+ employees and partners a priority mission?
Because we are LGBTQ+ led, we have made it a priority to involve our employees and their partners as part of our everyday lived experience. We've extended the definition of "family" for leave and PTO purposes. We've included partners in the insurance offerings, and we host company events that are welcoming and inclusive. Additionally, we are working to have profit sharing options for employees with the counsel of Dinsmore helping us think through that part of our corporate life journey. The LGBTQ+ identity is a serious commitment, and we are dedicated to stand with pride and dignity in support of a community whose discrimination has often been overlooked, ignored, and under reported.