This month we are delighted to be joined by Cynthia Fortlage, Founder & Owner CAF Services, Gender Diversity Specialist, Keynote speaker and Consultant. Cynthia is passionate about the intersection between human rights, sexuality, gender and privilege. Cynthia started work around this area and focuses on public speaking and consultancy. She works with people and companies who want to create an environment where everyone can belong. 

 

Cynthia's work as a consultant and speaker, also centers on the concepts of sexuality and gender. She identifies as LGBTQ+ , a Queer woman, with a past male gender history. She very openly shares her stories of she transitioned from a C-level male executive to a female C-executive in the same role and company. She explains how the transition was overnight, and how people changed their views and reactions towards her. This gave her insights into the privilege she had as a white man, in comparison to a white woman.  We also explore the aspect of Psychological safety, and how that affects us in our various genders.  

 

We also talk about the various pronouns we currently have, and how this can be confusing for a lot of people. We discuss how are we having these conversations with our children and how the younger generation seem to be more accepting and understanding of various pronouns, compared to generations that have not grown up with these pronouns. Cynthia explains the theory of "Acceptance without Understanding". This means that being able to accept, even when we do not understand so we can give the same human rights and kindness to others who identify and are different in their sexuality or gender than we are.

 

This is a really interesting and insightful conversation on how society, organisations and the governments are dealing with the issues of inclusion and equality when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights. How psychologically safe do people in this community feel based on the laws and rights they have? How do we create the safety without making other groups of people feel like thier own rights are not in return being ignored or infrindged upon?

 

Listen in to this conversation, one which is much needed in many societies!