Sexual Orientation in the Workplace

Polls consistently show that an overwhelming majority of Americans support equal job rights for gay men, lesbians and bisexuals. Fairness is one of our most cherished principles.
Yet only eleven states bar employment discrimination based on sexual orientation, and less than 150 local governments do so. Fewer still protect transgendered workers. In contrast, the private, university and non-profit sectors have taken the lead. Today, over half of the companies in the Fortune 500 (and all but seven of the Fortune 100) include the term “sexual orientation” in their nondiscrimination policies, and about 20% provide domestic partnership benefits to their gay, lesbian and bisexual employees.