Celebrating advances in LGBT+ diversity in the accountancy profession: Not letting idealistic purity become the enemy of progress

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a commentary on evidence presented and issues raised by Egan (2018) regarding LGBT+ diversity initiatives in the accountancy profession.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an invited commentary based on the author’s experiences of LGBT+ and other diversity initiatives in the profession.

Findings

There is cause for optimism in how far the profession has progressed in some countries on supporting LGBT+ (and other forms of) diversity.

Practical implications

As multinational accountancy firms can be agents for change in countries where there remains considerable discrimination and hostility to LGBT+ (and other) communities, constructive critique to help further improve the firms’ innovative actions on LGBT+ and other diversity issues could have a major positive impact on social justice. Egan (2018) is an example of such constructive critique.

Social implications

Where other academic studies take a disparagingly critical approach, they risk both squandering the opportunity to help achieve the progress they espouse and discouraging other firms embracing innovative diversity practices.

Originality/value

This study provides a counter perspective to some critical accounting arguments that appear to value idealism over progress.

Citation

Unerman, J. (2018), "Celebrating advances in LGBT+ diversity in the accountancy profession: Not letting idealistic purity become the enemy of progress", Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal, Vol. 9 No. 5, pp. 636-641. https://doi.org/10.1108/SAMPJ-08-2018-0207