The foundation
PROUT AT WORK-Foundation
History
The two founders of the foundation, Albert Kehrer and Dr. Jean-Luc Vey, met in Frankfurt in 2005. Even then, they were united by one idea: to promote queer diversity across companies. This gave rise to the joint idea of a network of networks – the PROUT AT WORK Foundation.
On December 4, 2013, PROUT AT WORK was officially approved by the government of Bavaria. The two board members Albert Kehrer and Jean-Luc Vey had already been working with companies on a voluntary basis to promote diversity and equal opportunities in the workplace. With the establishment of the foundation, they now had the opportunity to give their voluntary work a name and a legal form and to continue to grow. Today, PROUT AT WORK is the only foundation in the whole of Germany that is committed to queer diversity and equal opportunities in the workplace.
You can find out more about our past activities and projects in our activity reports.
founding companies
About the founders
Albert Kehrer
Born in Augsburg, he completed a banking apprenticeship followed by an intermediate diploma and studied abroad in the UK, where he also gained his first professional experience. Back in Germany, Albert Kehrer started his career at IBM, where he also co-founded the queer – then gay and lesbian – employee network. His involvement in the network led to a growing interest in promoting queer diversity in the workplace holistically and across companies.
Dr. Jean-Luc Vey (22.03.1967 – 02.11.2024)
Born in the south of France, Jean-Luc Vey completed his doctorate in Paris in 1995. He then began his career at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt am Main, where he worked in various roles for over 27 years and also co-founded the queer employee network dbPride. In 2024, he took early retirement to spend time with friends and family and devote his full energy to the foundation. He died suddenly and unexpectedly on November 2, 2024.
Our Purpose
The purpose of the Foundation (Section 2 of the Foundation’s Articles of Association) is the promotion of education, science and research. The aim of the Foundation is to work to ensure that all work environments are open to all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or sexual characteristics.
The Foundation fulfils its purpose through these primary avenues:
1. Public-relations and media outreach, and by organising events aimed at reducing homophobia and discrimination in the work environment
2. Commissioning studies on discrimination and homophobia in the workplace, and on the benefits of respectful work environments
3. Publishing guides and information material promoting the outcome of a respectful culture free of homophobia, trans*phobia and discrimination in the workplace
4. Cooperation with like-minded associations and interest groups in other countries, and participation in international organizations.
PROUT AT WORK-Partnerships
The Charta der Vielfalt promotes the recognition, appreciation and inclusion of diversity in the world of work.
The Safe Space Alliance is a non-profit organization that helps people from the LGBT*IQ community to identify safe spaces worldwide.
Work It Out is a platform for based in Bulgaria domestic and international companies that want to make their workplaces more inclusive and embrace the benefits of diversity. Work It Out is a collaborative initiative of GLAS Foundation and Single Step Foundation.
In a cooperation that is unique throughout Bavaria, several organizations have joined forces to strengthen the infrastructure of the LGBT*IQ community in Bavaria. The project is funded until 2023 by the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs (StMAS).
Achieving. More. Together.
You would like to work with us?
Get in touch with us.