10 ways to make your event more LGBTQ+ inclusive

As experienced #eventprofs, we all spend so much time asking ourselves:

"How can we design event that drives greater audience engagement?"

OR

"How do we create an experience that ensures delegates connect with each other?"

Why not start to ask ourselves:

How can we design and deliver a truly inclusive experience for our delegates, guests and attendees?

As event planners we are in control. We have designed the event and so we must make sure that everyone involved, from the crew, caterers and production staff through to the speakers, delegates and the client feels safe, comfortable and acknowledged.

To get this right, it requires us to take a firm stance and a proactive approach to embedding inclusion into our event design process. 

So, with that in mind, we thought we would share some ideas of things have worked for us in the past in the hope that it may ignite some ideas in others, and that together we can deliver a better experience for everyone. 

1. As part of the registration process, allow delegates to use their preferred pronouns and what name they prefer to be addressed by, if it is different to their legal name.
2. When planning the dress code for your event, try to refrain from referring to gender when describing what people should wear. Instead of saying "men" should wear X and women should wear Z you could maybe offer a list of suitable clothing instead.
3. Review all content and scripts to ensure that all text is gender neutral.
4. Create a code of conduct or an "inclusion policy" that clearly set expectations with your team and your suppliers
5. Set aside time to speak with your team and the wider event crew to make sure that they are using inclusive language and will follow best practice during the event.
6.  Host a "Q&A" session with your team to create an open environment for them to ask questions and confirm their understanding of what is required of them.
7.  Remind your team that "assuming makes an ass of you and me :)" and so to not assume any genders or pro-nouns.
8. Ensure you have a diverse range of acts and speakers across your event line up.
9. Brief all your acts and presenters about the importance of using gender neutral language when referring to to attendees, guests and delegates.
   
10. If you have followed this guide you should be well prepared, but always have a contingency plan as to how you will address any disrespectful vendors or attendees.