More Than Half Of All LGBTQ Workers Aren’t
“Degrees of Equality,” a new study released today by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, tells us how far we haven’t come.
Despite the fact that, “the majority of Fortune 500 companies have prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation since 1995 and have offered partner benefits since 2006,” despite the fact that, “more than one-third prohibit discrimination based on gender identity,” and despite the fact that, “the number of companies that receive top ratings on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality index, the pre-eminent benchmark on LGBT policy, rose from just 13 in 2002 to 305 in the 2010 report,” the HRC Foundation reports that “the majority of LGBT workers (51 percent) hide their LGBT identity to most at work.”
Only 27% of LGBT workers “are open to everyone.”
Sadly, younger workers, who most would expect to be more open, given increasingly supportive attitudes among their peers about honosexuality, are the most closeted: “Only 5 percent of LGBT employees ages 18 to 24 say they are totally open at work.”
And they’re given little reason to come out.
“About two- thirds (62 percent) of LGBT employees say negative comments about minority groups are made at least once in a while at work.”
These constant reminders lead to complacency and lack of action against unsafe work environments.
“The vast majority of LGBT workers do not report instances when they hear an anti-LGBT remark to human resources or management. On average, 67 percent ignore it or let it go, 9 per- cent raise the issue with a supervisor and only 5 percent go to human resources.”
Being in a committed relationship makes it easier. 56% of LGBT workers in a relationship are completely open at work.
LGBT workers are more likely to be out in smaller companies: “LGBT employees in large businesses are less likely to be open to everyone at work (20 percent) than those in smaller businesses (32 percent).”
Why?
“Half (51 percent) of all LGBT employees say one reason they are not open is because disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity may make co-workers feel uncomfortable.”
The report suggests that change can come from LGBT employees themselves. “The presence of visible LGBT employees in management communicates to LGBT employees that their company is open and accepting and enables LGBT employees to be open at work. Those with visibly open LGBT management are more than twice as likely as those without to be open to everyone at work (47 percent versus 18 percent).”
So, what do you think? Is it time for LGBTQ employees to “come out?” Do you feel comfortable enough to be out at work?
If not, what’s stopping you? Do you feel your job or career might be threatened? Do you feel you’d lose friends or support? Does the economy have anything to do with your decision?
Do you feel it’s worth the risk?