LGBTQIA+ Rights in the Workplace
While the battle to legalize gay marriage dominated many of the early conversations about gay rights, rights and protections in the workplace remain a major concern for LGBTQIA+ activists and allies. In the United States, protections from bias in hiring, promotion, job assignment, termination, compensation and harassment on the basis of their sexual orientation or identity vary greatly by state. Some states only protect certain workers or protect individuals based on certain criteria (such as sexual orientation but not gender identity). As of March 2021, according to the Human Rights Campaign, only 22 states prohibit discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity, and 12 states offer no protection at all. The protection of LGBTQIA+ individuals can often be left to the discretion of American corporations.
