At ID Finance we celebrate diversity, our biggest strength ¡Happy Pride Day!

At ID Finance, our strength lies in the diversity of our team. This has always been a distinctive element of our DNA. Before professionals, we are persons and each one is unique and unparalleled. Therefore, we all aim at working in an environment where we all feel comfortable sharing both, our professional side alongside more intime aspects of our personal lives. It seems something normal, however it not always is. Ensuring that the labour environment is an open space where all feel free to express their authentic self is essential for a culture based on respect towards diversity.

On the Pride Day at ID Finance we don’t want to just celebrate for one day the diversity of our people that have led the company to success. That’s why we have created the new space for reflection “Our strength lies in diversity” to give a voice to those people of the team who want to contribute to more visibility and normalisation of the LGBTQIA+ collective within the working environment. Their voice should lead us to overcome obstacles and continue working to promote a more inclusive space of coexistence in which we all can be as we truly are.

“This date recalls all what we fight for, all the voices that are silenced, or which are not allowed to express themselves. It recalls all those who are afraid to come ‘out of the closet’, the respect for our rights, because we are human beings, beings of light, beings of love”, says Isaac Jiménez, Collection Specialist at ID Finance, about the Pride Day. At the same time, he underlines that “this doesn’t change this month nor any other time of the year. The fight for diversity, freedom and respect takes place every day of the year!

In this regard, Isaac considers it is very important to be explicit about our support at bringing our cause to light, not hiding a reality that has been latent for many years, making corporate values of inclusion and diversity explicit, and reminding people belonging to any LGBTQIA+ collective (even if we don’t know whether there are any in our company) that we are with them, we respect and value them regardless of their sexual identity”. He also stresses that it is relevant to guarantee equal opportunity to all members of the company, as that way “we will be guaranteeing equity and equality of all collectives”. At the same time he reminds that it is not all about the responsibility of the companies and that there is always a chance to support LGTBI+ collectives from inside”.

What is clear is that members of any company are first and above all persons and professionals, irrespective of their sexual orientation or identity. Without doubt in the past years significant improvements have been achieved. However, there is still a long way to go to increase recognition and tolerance.

As Javier Olivares, CRM Specialist at ID Finance, points out, “even though the labour environment is still a relatively heteronorm area, from my experience I think that within the LGBTQIA+ community we have now more space to validate one thing: that our sexual orientation or identity does not condition our aptitude, functions or performance at work. I believe spaces in companies where the collective can analyse and discuss about inclusivity should not been given just on a specific date. It should be a constant work where all should have the chance to participate”.

Another relevant aspect addressed by Javier is the vital role that outreach initiatives play. “Unfamiliarity often generates fear and rejection. That’s why it is key that companies inform and educate about this subject to later on work in creating spaces of tolerance and respect”.

Due to the lack of role models belonging to the LGBTQIA+ collective, they often face difficulties to know themselves and recognize openly, with freedom and without fear who they truly are. This process can take years, and the lack of visibility in working environments is often an additional obstacle that produce insecurity to show themselves as they really are. This is how Gemma Valverde, Office Manager at ID Finance, explains it:

“The lack of referents of the whole range of LGBTQIA+ in general culture hindered me from knowing myself 100% during most part of my live. This is just one of the many reasons why it is important that the community has visibility: to be able to truly know ourselves, to learn to respect those around us without prejudices, and to love freely and with full-throated intensity. And it is precisely in this regard how we can improve all as society: by strengthening visibility, inclusivity, respect and raising the voices of the LGBTQIA+ collective and promoting pride not just one day or month a year, but allowing us to feel proud, secure, respected and listened during the whole year”.

Despite all, Gemma feels fortunate… “Personally I have never met obstacles with being who I am, not in my working nor personal environment. That’s why I believe my experience is not the norm, but an exception”.

On the other hand, it’s undeniable that diversity, in general, and specifically diversity regarding sexual orientation and identity contributes to an immense richness of values in any environment, including the professional one. That’s why on the Pride Day and during the rest 364 days of the year we should embrace that diversity from which we all profit.

Ángel Masache, Collection Specialist at ID Finance, also reflects on this matter: “Currently the fight for fundamental rights for sexual diversity continues. I consider it is a big step forward to be able to show ourselves as we are, and that this diversity gives as different perspectives of how to see and live life”.

Awareness and sensitization towards the LGBTQIA+ collective have improved significantly in the past years, and HR departments nowadays play a central role in promoting respect in labour environments, going way beyond policies on equality and the strict compliance with Human Rights. This is what Miguel López, HR Generalist at ID Finance explains:

“The world is changing constantly alongside our way of working. Now while being part of a company we seek feeling identified with our values. It is not only important to ensure that we comply with law, but also to be involved in it. That’s why companies make big efforts to introduce mechanisms that allow us to make progress regarding our rights. My area and all the team work to make sure we are a company committed with employees’, customers’ and society’s rights”.

Promoting tolerance should not just be the sole responsibility of the LGBTQIA+ collective. At ID Finance there are many other team members promoting everyday values such as diversity, equal opportunities and freedom.

Our Global CFO, Víctor de las Heras, commented that “equality and diversity are values that must be present in all of us, accepting and respecting what is important for each of us. Freedom should always be at the core to promote equity and diversity, which uplift us with each interaction that we make. I have always defended these values as integrating, enriching and differentiating elements. Personally, I don’t conceive that there are still all kinds of discrimination nowadays and I think we should all participate to eradicate all forms of discrimination”.

Looking back in time, since the Stonewell riots of 1969, which mraked the beginning of the movement for LGBTQIA+ rights, there is still a long way to go to for those who are part of it to ensure they are fully integrated and respected by the society as a whole. Unfortunately today there are still episodes of hatred and discrimination taking place.

Within this context, Noelia Morgade, COO at ID Finance, highlighted: “As long as it is necessary to remember that there are still persons who are rejected, persecuted, and threatened by their sexual orientation or genre identity all of us as a society have the obligation to stand up and support the LGTBIQ+ collective actively. Even today, 54 years after, there is still an unsolved problem within society, and therefore it is    essential that we take a step forward to support inclusion and reject discrimination”.

We are aware that there is always room for improvement, and everything improves when you give people a voice. That’s why at ID Finance we will keep working on the Pride Day and during the rest of the year to promote values such as respect, inclusion, dialogue and tolerance. Happy Pride Day to all the people at ID Finance!