June is Pride Month, a month dedicated to celebrating and bringing awareness to the LGBTQ+ community globally.
Nomura is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where all our employees feel supported. We believe the diversity of our people is key to our competitive strengths and our success as a firm.
In 2019, Nomura became the first Japanese financial services firm to sign the United Nations Standards of Conduct for Business for tackling discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. Our Code of Conduct also expressly prohibits discrimination against people in the LGBTQ+ community.
We encourage greater understanding of the LGBTQ+ community through awareness initiatives at our offices globally, and we implement inclusive policies for all our people. Our voluntary employee networks also actively contribute to our DEI efforts. Some of our recent initiatives are highlighted below.
Japan
Tokyo Rainbow Pride (TRP)
Since 2015, Nomura has supported Tokyo Rainbow Pride (TRP), Japan's largest LGBTQ+ event. This year we held a workshop at our booth titled "Everyone can be someone's ally." Around 3,000 people visited our booth and shared their thoughts on what it means to be an ally. In addition, about 100 employees, including senior management, joined the Pride Parade. Nomura is also actively raising LGBTQ+ awareness through exhibition events in our Osaka and Tokyo offices.
LGBTQ+ Booklet: Money and Life Plan: A Booklet for LGBTQ+ Youth
In 2023, we published a booklet on "Money and Life Plan: A Booklet for LGBTQ+ Youth." In addition to distributing the booklet, we also conducted educational activities, such as seminars. In recognition of our efforts to raise LGBTQ+ awareness, Nomura Holdings has earned the PRIDE Index Gold Award*1 for eight consecutive years and the Rainbow Award*2 for three consecutive years.
*1 An evaluation index in Japan for LGBTQ+ activities in the workplace.
*2 The Rainbow Award recognizes Gold Award recipients that have implemented initiatives with collective impact.
Americas
Lunch and Learn with Outright International
On May 20, the Americas Pride Network hosted a lunch and learn with , co-hosted by . Outright International provided an update of State of the World, sharing updates on their thematic and global advocacy programs (including their work on LGBTQ inclusion in democratic processes and multilateral development banks), the global state of the LGBTIQ human rights movement (victories/setbacks/threats), and information on how companies and individuals can get involved and support Outright's work. Employees joined in person and virtually.
EMEA
Beautiful Thing Movie Screening
In EMEA, the focus for this year has been building awareness and empowering colleagues in the workplace. During LGBTQIA+ History Month in February, the Pride Network held a screening of the film Beautiful Thing, which explores the tribulations of coming to terms with sexuality and of others finding out, coming out and family support.
Celebrating Nomura's Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Models
We had the pleasure of hosting our very own Avon Neo and Ryan Ige from AEJ and Japan, respectively, who were named to the Outstanding LGBTQ+ Role Model Lists 2023 in November last year. We celebrated their achievements in the DEI space at the Involve Role Models Gala Dinner, alongside hosting a PRIDE lunch to share best practice across the regions.
Tour of Queer Britain and Career Talk
In April, Sakura, a consortium of Japanese Banks' LGBTQIA+ networks, organised a private tour of Queer Britain, Britain's first LGBTQIA+ museum and this was attended by Nomura colleagues. In addition, the Pride Network partnered with the Gender Balance Network to celebrate lesbian visibility week. This included a networking lunch and career talk hosted by Michelle Rodrigues, Head of General Counsel of Instinet Europe Limited, Nomura's overseas subsidiary.
Asia ex-Japan
Love-A-Fair 2024
Our Singapore Pride Network recently brought back its annual Love-A-Fair fundraiser. Together with local LGBTQ+ and aligned vendors, our colleagues put on their entrepreneurial hats to sell food and other goodies for LGBTQ+ inclusion, including bagels, ice cream, astrology readings, and caricature portraits. The event raised over USD15,000 for Oogachaga, a community-based counselling service for the LGBTQ+ community in Singapore.
All of Us Strangers Film Screening
In April, our Hong Kong Pride Network hosted an eagerly-anticipated screening of All of Us Strangers for Pride Network members and guests from Hong Kong’s Interbank Pride Network.
Pride Month Quiz Night
To celebrate Pride Month, the AEJ Pride Network will host a Quiz Night on June 27. Hosted by a drag performer as quizmaster, it will feature Pride-themed questions from across the AEJ region. Employees will compete in teams for this special night of fun, facts, and fabulousness across LGBTQ+ history, culture, and awareness.
Powai
Participation in Rise 2024
For the first time, Nomura Services India (Powai) participated in RISE 2024, India's premier LGBT+ job fair. It was held virtually on April 6, 2024. It was an opportunity well leveraged to enhance Nomura's employer brand as an inclusive organization. A virtual booth was set up and HR ensured continuous engagement with participants through polls, sharing of our company profile, and our inclusive practices. In total, 674 people visited our booth and 464 of them showed interest in joining Nomura by sharing their basic details.