June 27, 2023

At Balfour Beatty, diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) is woven into the fabric of our culture. Uniting under the theme “Celebration, Education, Jubilation,” our LGBTQ+ employee affinity group, Building PRIDE (People Respecting Inclusivity, Diversity and Equality), is promoting the positivity of Pride Month while building greater connection, understanding and support for the LGBTQ+ community.

In this Q&A, Learning & Development Program Manager Gina Vinson and Northwest VP of Human Resources Lisa Laughton engaged in a candid conversation about Building PRIDE, creating inclusive workspaces and the importance of being one’s authentic self.

Question: How have you seen the LGBTQ+ experience in the workplace change throughout your years in the industry?

Gina Vinson: I saw a major shift in 2020 when we founded the Building PRIDE employee affinity group. The group allows employees nationwide to connect and find support and happiness within the Balfour Beatty community. Prior to that, it was something that just wasn’t spoken about.

Lisa Laughton: As an ally for the LGBTQ+ community, I would agree. The formation of the group allowed people to feel more comfortable discussing their unique identities, and I’ve seen more individuals whom we work with feeling more comfortable and empowered to come out over the last couple of years.

Q: How has Building PRIDE grown since it was started in 2020?

Gina: We have a small but mighty core of passionate individuals who work to make the experience of the LGBTQ+ community and allies at Balfour Beatty the best it can be. Since we founded the group, we’ve built a very strong, tight-knit community that is extremely welcoming to anyone interested in joining us.

Lisa: I think the group is also very intentional about reaching out to its members and inviting interaction. It really is a safe space for people to gather with other individuals across the organization who are similar to them. And the growth has really come from the members themselves.

Gina: Absolutely, it’s really coming from the passion of this group of individuals who will not let someone ever feel unwelcome. We’re dedicated to making sure everyone knows there is a place for them and creating a space for them to connect and encourage each other.

Q: What are some of Building PRIDE’s goals?

Gina: The foundation of our goals is ensuring all employees feel respected, creating career equity and increasing diversity across our company in a way that ultimately extends to our industry and communities. Those are the high-level goals, and everything we do flows up to those things.

Lisa: Definitely, the group is really creating connections and building networks.

Q: How do you celebrate Pride in your day-to-day life?

Gina: In my day-to-day working life, my pride is that being out in the workplace is something I’ve made a conscious decision to do. It’s my hope that if even just one person feels they can be seen as their authentic self, any challenges I may face are worthwhile.

Lisa: For me, I wasn’t very informed on a lot of issues facing the LGBTQ+ community until I joined Building PRIDE, so I’ve made a conscious effort to listen to my LGBTQ+ peers and educate myself. I think one way I celebrate pride is by raising my two daughters to be kind, open-hearted individuals and sharing the things I’ve learned with them.

Q: What resources do you recommend for someone looking to educate themselves and grow their allyship?

Gina: For our Balfour Beatty teammates, our company intranet has lots of information posted like TED Talks, personal stories, recordings of past company webinars and more. The group is also happy to facilitate ally trainings to any groups who are interested. I’d also just encourage anyone who has questions to ask them. There is also a list of Building PRIDE ambassadors who are happy to answer any questions our teammates may have without judgment when they come from a place of respect and desire for mutual growth and understanding.

Lisa: I’d also add that learning a core of LGBTQ+ vocabulary was very helpful to me. I think allies can often be reluctant to discuss topics for fear of saying the wrong thing. Understanding correct and respectful terminology was transformative for me. I’ve also found that staying aware of current events has grown my allyship immensely—just reading the news and understanding what is happening in the community has helped me better understand my LGBTQ+ peers.

Gina: Absolutely. There are also organizations like PFLAG and GLAAD that have lots of educational resources for allies, family members of LGBTQ+ people and LGBTQ+ people themselves.

Q: How does expressing pride bring you joy?

Gina: There are a lot of things that bring me joy about being out and proud. One is that I can speak authentically and proudly about my wife and our shared experiences outside of work, because I’ve been so open about who I am. It’s an issue a lot of individuals aren’t aware of, but the LGBTQ+ community often asks, “Who knows what about me?” It brings me a lot of joy that I can speak about myself and my life without that worry.

Being part of Building PRIDE is also a major source of joy for me. Having such a strong community that I know I can lean on is very powerful. It’s a joy to help Balfour Beatty colleagues be further seen and appreciated for who they are.

Lisa: I get a lot of joy interacting with Building PRIDE members who feel comfortable sharing their experiences with me. Even in discussing struggles someone may be having, there is so much joy in having built that foundation of trust that makes someone feel confident confiding in me.

Q: Gina, what does it mean to you to work in an environment in which you feel comfortable showing up every day as your authentic self?

Gina: Very simply, it feels great to be me. I don’t feel like I have to leave part of myself at home or hide pieces of myself in order to succeed. Whether I’m at work or at home or out in the world, I’m me and I’m all of me.

Q: Lisa, as an ally, how does your working experience improve when your coworkers feel comfortable bringing their whole selves to work?

Lisa: My approach to work is very collaborative, and the only way that collaboration is successful is when everyone at the table is comfortable and confident enough to share their ideas. When someone feels the need to suppress themselves, we’re not going to get the best of them, therefore, we’re not getting their best ideas or the real communication we need.

Q: How do we move the needle on LGBTQ+ inclusion in our industry?

Gina: It really comes down to making inclusion a priority and being open to welcoming a broader perspective and more diverse ideas. We know that building strong connections and facilitating more diversity of thought allows for greater innovation.

Lisa: Absolutely, I think valuing everyone is also hugely important. From those in the field to those in the office and everyone in-between, it’s vital that everyone in our business knows that their opinions and perspectives matter. We don’t want our differences to create a rift, we want to embrace our differences and recognize that we’re all better when everyone is included.