Introduction

Many people are unaware that it is legal to discriminate against a person based on sexual orientation or gender identity under U.S. federal law.  While some states have protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, most do not.  However, the Employment Non-discrimination Act, or ENDA, is a bill in Congress which would extend this protection of equal rights for LGBT employees under the law.  With or without legal protections, there are ways to strive for equality today.

News update!

The fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act - which would protect lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender Americans from workplace discrimination - continues to face delays despite growing support.
 
The decision on whether ENDA will move forward or stall rests with the leadership of the United States House of Representatives. The time is now for us to tell Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and our House Representatives that they must protect all Americans from discrimination by moving ENDA forward immediately. It is no longer acceptable to wait.
 
Speak up by contacting Speaker Pelosi's office and requesting that ENDA move now. Contact your federal lawmakers, asking that she or he support ENDA and call on them to take action on the bill immediately.
 
Speaker Pelosi can be reached at 202-225-0100. To reach your House Representative, call the U.S. capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121, provide your zip code and ask to be connected to your House Representative.
 
Now is the time to take action! Today is the opportunity to make a difference. Your unique voice is needed now. Make a difference.

Learn about other ways you can help.

Resources

We are continually striving to provide resources that will help create better workplaces for LGBT individuals, in our mission for workplace equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, or characteristics.

Read about the "20 Steps to an Out & Equal Workplace," and use the toolkit to learn how to put them into practice.

Wondering where LGBT employees are? Learn more about best practicies for LGBT Self IDentification Metrics in the 2009 Self ID Report.

Read the William Institute's report "Bias in the Workplace: Consistent Evidence of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination," documenting the widespread and persistent pattern of employment discrimination against LGBT people in both private and public employment.

Read up on the findings presented in the Council for Global Equality's latest report, Anchoring Equality: How US Corporations Can Build Equal and Inclusive Work Environments.

Learn about corporate-nonprofit collaboration in the Gill Foundation's 2009 publication, "Business of Change." The guide promotes corporate investment in nonprofits working to secure equality for LGBT community.

Take a look at the Advocacy Frontier.