In this thought-provoking piece, Steph Cripps, Projects Director at SocialChain, shines a light on a startling statistic: a quarter of LGBTQ+ young adults feel compelled to go ‘back into the closet’ upon entering the workforce. College and university years often provide a fresh start—spaces where many queer individuals feel free to be themselves, unshackled from childhood stigmas and emboldened by the presence of diverse, like-minded peers.
Yet, as they transition into the professional realm—particularly within the creative industry, which prides itself on innovation and inclusivity—far too many still encounter environments that stifle or overlook their authentic selves. In an era that celebrates diversity on the surface, why is queerness still forced into the background?
And more importantly, how can we foster workplaces that don’t just tolerate but genuinely celebrate LGBTQ+ identities? Through personal insights and industry expertise, Cripps lays out both the challenges and the opportunities for real, lasting change.
Steph Cripps
Did you know that, according to research, a quarter of LGBTQ+ young adults go ‘back into the closet’ after starting work? Often, queer people find acceptance during their college or university years, unbound by the opinions of old classmates, less afraid of bullying, and more readily able to find people like them. It’s like starting afresh.
So, it opens up an interesting conversation: as we progress into adulthood - when we’d hope to become more well-rounded and open-minded - why do so many queer people start work only to feel the need to retreat back into the protective boundaries of the closet?
In the creative industry, the way queerness is perceived and navigated has undoubtedly evolved over the last decade. LGBTQ+ committees and networks have emerged, our perspectives are sought for internal communications and client pitches and brands are increasingly engaging with LGBTQ+ audiences. Over the past five to six years, there’s been a marked shift towards acceptance and positive representation of queerness in the workplace.
And yet, despite being one of the safer industries for LGBTQ+ individuals, challenges remain. Instances of bias and outdated attitudes still ripple throughout the industry, creating environments where queer people can feel unsupported or unseen. The pressure to conform, avoid confrontation, or downplay queerness to "fit in" can hold back progress for individuals and the industry as a whole.
This fact highlights an uncomfortable truth: while progress has been made, there is still more work to do, not just in how we advocate for queer colleagues but also in how we craft content that represents our community.
Rickie Marsden
Tired stereotypes persist in both advertising and social media, reducing us to narrow, often clichéd roles that fail to capture the full breadth of our experiences. We are more than the flamboyant, chardonnay-drinking gay best friend. Our most compelling stories don’t begin and end with our coming out, and trans people are not defined solely by their gender.
LGBTQIA+ characters, whether in short-form social content or longer narratives, need to be as nuanced and layered as their straight counterparts. But how can we create meaningful representation if we don’t fully engage with queerness in the workplace? The stories we tell mirror the environments we create, and we have a responsibility to make both as inclusive as possible.
To my queer friends and my brilliant straight colleagues: take this as a call to action. Whether you’re pitching, casting, recruiting, or storyboarding, put gay people in the story. Place them front and centre. You’re not ticking a box if you’re doing it for the right reasons and doing it authentically.
So do it well, do it with purpose. Advocate for queer representation in your work. Strive for it to be so integrated, so normalised, that it becomes unremarkable. Let’s work toward a future where articles like this no longer need to be written.
Show the young intern who has just left the safety of college and joined your agency that it’s okay to be unapologetically themselves. Let them see that their queerness is not just tolerated but celebrated.
It’s a privilege and an honour to be authentically you. Help make that truth undeniable for the next generation.
