Discrimination : Get a Non-Discrimination Policy

The good news is that there is widespread support for laws barring discrimination against LGBT people. A May 2007 Gallup poll found that 89% of Americans believe that lesbians and gay men should have equal rights in the workplace. Eighty-eight percent of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their workplace nondiscrimination policies and a quarter of them also prohibit discrimination based on gender identity. For more information on laws and policies surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace, download HRC's annual pdf State of the Workplace 412.01 Kb report.

Proving the Need

While you may know that discrimination against LGBT people is pervasive, those you are trying to persuade may not. Two good sources illustrating the extent of discrimination against LGBT in the workplace are the ACLU’s 2007 publication Working in the Shadows: Ending Employment Discrimination for LGBT Americans, which includes stories of discrimination in the workplace throughout the country, and the Williams Institute’s 2007 publication pdf Bias in the Workplace: Consistent Evidence of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination 503.48 Kb, which summarizes the findings of 10 years of research on LGBT workplace discrimination.



Where Do I Start?

One easy way to get involved is to help persuade Congress to pass a transgender inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which is a federal bill that would bar discrimination in the workplace. Check out the Employment Non-Discrimination Act section of this website to find out how you can help.
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Advocating for a Statewide Civil Rights Law

If you decide you want to try to get a state law passed, there are likely other groups who are willing to help. The ACLU affiliate in your state is a good first step. You will also want to see if your state has a statewide LGBT lobbying organization. Most states do. Use the "Find Local Groups" feature on the Get Busy, Get Equal homepage to find an LGBT organization in your area.
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Advocating at the Local Level, or in Your School or Workplace

LGBT activist have learned over the years that it’s often more productive to start locally and work up. If enough cities and tows pass an ordinance, you’re much more likely to get a state law passed. If you are starting at the local level, you might want to first want to become familiar with how to organize. You’ll also need to figure out what kind of policy you are going to attempt. Should you try to get your city council to pass a non-discrimination ordinance? Should you try to get your local school board to pass a non-discrimination policy? Are you a university professor or student who can organize a campus campaign to get a non discrimination policy passed on campus?

Regardless of what you set your sights on, we’ve got the tools to get you started on your way.