WILLEMSTAD – The position of LGBTQ+ people on Curaçao is a cause for serious concern, according to new research conducted by Optima Arbodienst in collaboration with Report App. The findings paint an alarming picture of insecurity, discrimination and structural exclusion in the workplace.
According to the study, 74 percent of respondents say they do not feel safe being themselves at work. More than half, 58 percent, report having experienced discrimination or micro-aggressions, while 83 percent say they feel unsupported by either the government or their employer. Notably, 10 percent of those surveyed indicated that they do not even know of a confidential adviser they could turn to in cases of misconduct or discrimination.
The researchers emphasize that these figures do not point to isolated incidents, but rather to a structural problem within the working environment on the island. The lack of safety and support, they argue, has a direct impact on well-being, mental health and professional performance, and therefore requires concrete and sustained action.
Optima Arbodienst and the Report App will present the full results of the study during a public session on 25 February. In addition to a detailed explanation of the findings, the event will address scientific and neurological insights related to social safety, stress and exclusion in the workplace. The organizers will also present recommendations aimed at government institutions, employers and employees to improve inclusion and safety for LGBTQ+ individuals.
The initiators hope the research will serve as a wake-up call and lead to tangible measures to create safer and more inclusive workplaces across Curaçao.