The Association of Independent Music (AIM) has joined equality charity Stonewall, as a ‘Diversity Champion’, as CEO Paul Pacifico calls diversity “one of the independent sector’s greatest assets”.
Stonewall campaigns for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, and AIM’s partnership with the charity will encourage its members to consider diversity in their recruitment, advertise on LGBT job sites and clearly display their organisation’s commitment to LGBT equality.
Pacifico wrote extensively about the partnership for Music Week, his words feature in our latest issue, out now.
AIM will distribute research and guidelines to its members with the aim of increasing awareness and knowledge of how to promote and develop LGBT equality in the indie sector.
It will also support its members in reviewing their equality policies by directing them towards the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index. Additionally, AIM plans to organise Empowerment Programmes for members, which will enable those within the sector to act as public champions for equality, celebrate difference, improve inclusion and fight bullying.
Pacifico commented: ‘The independent sector is a diverse community in its very essence. Diversity is one of our greatest assets and I am proud to say that we have always been leaders in this area. However, it’s crucial that we don’t become complacent - there is still a lot of work to be done. Through our partnership with Stonewall, we will be offering advice, information and practical steps for our members to help improve LGBT equality, get the best out of their staff and improve their business.”
AIM’s CEO added: “We hope the wider industry will recognise the need for progression in this area, and join us in doing what they can to improve the culture of acceptance and inclusivity in the world of music.”
We need everyone involved in independent music to feel included and welcome
Vicky Hayden, Stonewall
Vicky Hayden, head of private sector memberships, Stonewall said: ‘It’s so important that we’re now working with AIM. We need everyone involved in independent music to feel included and welcome. To make this happen, we need individuals and organisations to step up to show their support for LGBT people and that’s what AIM have done today. We’re excited they’ve joined us as a Diversity Champion and we look forward to working with them to help further LGBT equality in music.’
Brighton band Dream Wife added: ‘Initiatives like Stonewall are vital for equal representation of LGBTQ identifying people not just in the music industry but in general. Raising awareness and taking action on issues such as this is important. We need more role models that are female identifying and non-binary in the music business, we need to normalise these roles and the access to them; particularly within the LGBTQ community. We need to stand together in this, we need to be loud and we need to be proud!’
Subscribers can read Music Week’s 2018 interview with Pacifico here.
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