Gütersloh, 06/26/2023

Six Years of ‘be.queer’

Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe and Chief HR Officer Immanuel Hermreck again met with representatives of the LGBTIQ+ employee network “be.queer”, which is celebrating its sixth anniversary this year. For the occasion, the network chairs Michael Lauk and Martin Masson together with other members of the “be.queer” core team presented the developments and successes of the past year as well as goals and this year’s upcoming activities.

The Group-wide “be.queer” network has been committed to the concerns of LGBTIQ+ employees across all divisions for six years, promoting an “inclusive” corporate culture and the exchange with people from the LGBTIQ+ community. As part of an annual meeting, Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe and Chief HR Officer Immanuel Hermreck recently thanked the members for their steadfast commitment and emphasized the important contribution the network is making towards an even more tolerant, diverse and successful Bertelsmann. In addition, they ensured their future support for the work of the network.

At the meeting, the network chairs, Michael Lauk and Martin Masson, and the members of the “be.queer” core team presented the development of the network since the last meeting in 2022, its realignment with regard to content, and further professionalization. The exchange began with a video featuring voices from the world of Bertelsmann and a look back on the varied activities “be.queer” have organized and accompanied in the past year – headed by the “Open for all” sticker campaign: twelve months ago, Immanuel Hermreck placed the first rainbow sticker at the entrance to the Corporate Center in Gütersloh. Today, more than 500 stickers at more than 90 Bertelsmann sites in Germany and around the world send a clear signal for diversity and tolerance.

Other initiatives of the network also generated more visibility, such as participation in the Christopher Street Days in Cologne and Katowice, and in the LGBTIQ+ career fair “Sticks&Stones”. Additionally, “be.queer” supported the “Diversity Week” organized by RTL and Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe. Enlisting new members and supporters represents another success: in addition to the foundation of sister networks at RTL and BMG, “be.queer” was able to gain more executive sponsors from various corporate divisions.

Working environment as a safe space for all

In a discussion, Thomas Rabe and Immanuel Hermreck spoke with the core team about the importance of the sense of belonging at the workplace and the special role of employee networks. Especially at a time when members of the LGBTIQ+ community are encountering increased hostility and discrimination, it is important that the working environment represents a safe space for all and is characterized by respect and tolerance. Bertelsmann and its corporate divisions also publicly advocate for these values, for example by defending freedom of opinion in Hungary. Another example is the lawsuit supported by Penguin Random House against recent legislation in Florida, which restricts the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community. The members of the core team expressly thanked the CEO and Chief HR Officer for the continuous support and solidarity with queer people.

Together, the participants of the meeting discussed the network’s upcoming activities, headed by this year’s “Prout at Work” conference in October in Berlin. The Prout at Work Foundation is a German nonprofit foundation which advocates for the equity of members of the LGBTIQ+ community in the working world. At the conference, Bertelsmann – inspired by “be.queer” – will function as the host. Furthermore, “be.queer” will take part in the Berlin Pride with a Bertelsmann float and internally promotes the use of “more inclusive” language. With these and many other initiatives, the network wants to continue the successes of the past year and send signals for tolerance and diversity, both internally and externally.