Amsterdam – May 17, 2025 – Blueyse CEO Julie Hemels-Hoff and COO Erika Harriford-McLaren joined Dutch LGBTQI+ advocates, civil society leaders, and corporate allies at the “Ring the Bell for LGBTIQ+ Equality” event, a global initiative led by the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
Together with Jamie Holton from the UN Global Compact Network Netherlands and Ana Puga of AkzoNobel, we proudly represented the UN Global Compact DEI Peer Learning Group and reaffirmed our shared belief that markets, like societies, thrive when equity is the norm and not the exception.
Global solidarity across markets
In a collective act of solidarity, stock exchanges on five continents rang the bell as a call to action to create workplaces and systems where LGBTIQ+ individuals are safe, visible, and valued. Participating exchanges for this inaugural event included ASX (Australia), Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (Mexico), Cboe Global Markets (USA), Deutsche Börse (Germany), Toronto Stock Exchange (Canada), London Stock Exchange Group (UK), and Euronext, which spans Belgium, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the UK.
Across regions and industries, LGBTIQ+ people continue to face barriers to opportunities, from lack of workplace protections to underrepresentation in leadership and limited access to safe, equitable work environments. By stepping forward, exchanges and companies demonstrate that financial systems are not neutral. They can either reinforce exclusion or actively enable equity.
Assess, act, advance: LGBTQI+ analysis tools and platforms
For companies seeking to move from intention to action, UN Global Compact offers a free, confidential LGBTIQ+ self-assessment tool designed to help businesses identify gaps, discover opportunities, and build actionable roadmaps toward inclusive practices. Event partner Koppa Lab also offers a global platform aimed at advancing LGBTI+ economic empowerment by connecting businesses with data, funding opportunities, and inclusive partners to reshape systems and create long-term equity and opportunity.
As global politics continue to challenge progress on inclusion and human rights, moments like this serve as critical reminders that the private sector can, and must, lead with courage. Inclusion is more than a principle; it’s a strategy for building resilient, future-ready organisations.