By Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias
 When President Clinton signed the executive order designating June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month he wrote “I hope that in this new millennium will continue to break down the walls of fear and prejudice and work to build a bridge to understanding and tolerance, until gays and lesbians are afforded the same rights and responsibilities as all Americans.”
Much has happened since June 2000. According the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) more than half of states and thousands of corporations have expanded protections and benefits for their LGBT employees including nearly 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies.
 Below is a sampling of web resources including advocacy groups, best places to work, professional associations, job portals and books dedicated to helping gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered individuals advance their careers and contributions in the workplace, as well as, educating employers and coworkers to create more inclusive workplaces.
Advocacy Groups
GLBTworkplace.com
The organization’s goal is to provide the knowledge, support and tools to enable a world where GLBT people can work openly and safely in a workplace that is welcoming and free of harassment and discrimination, regardless of occupation. The web site features articles, editorial commentary, discussion topics and opinion / data gathering polls. The Frequently Asked Questions by Managers Regarding GLBT Workplace Issues section is also a valuable guide for everyone.
Human Rights Campaign Workplace Project
HRC delivers information on workplace policies and laws surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity, and is a great resource for “how-to” information. HRC publishes the annual Corporate Equality Index which rates companies on their GLBT inclusiveness.
Lambda Legal
For more than three decades, workplace equality has been a top priority for Lambda Legal. Workplace concerns remain the number one topic for the organization’s Help Desk callers. All of their cases and education campaigns seek to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or HIV status.
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
O & E champions safe and equitable workplaces LGBT people. The organization advocates building and strengthening successful organizations that value all employees, customers, and communities. O&E hosts a nationally recognized annual conference, offers training programs and has regional affiliates for local networking.
OUT For Work
OFW is a national organization educating, preparing, and empowering LGBTQA students and their allies for the workplace.
Best Places to Work
HRC Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality 2009
Based on the 2009 Corporate Equality Index, our annual report that rates corporate America’s treatment of LGBT employees, 260 businesses received top ratings. Click on the industry heading to see a list of businesses. Each business name links to a more detailed profile of their policies and practices.
DiversityInc’s 2009 Top 50 Companies for Diversity
The vast majority of companies listed have active programs to recruit GLBT employees, nondiscrimination policies that include gender identity, Employee Resource Groups for LGBT employees, gay/lesbian businesses in supplier-diversity tracking and corporate web sites addressing the LGBT community.
Company-based GLBT Employee Resources Groups List
Employee Networks can facilitate an entrée into the company of your choice. You can contact members of the affinity group to gain inside knowledge of potential opportunities, appropriate hiring officials, referrals to hiring officials, navigating the selection process, corporate culture and the working environment for GLBT employees at the company you have targeted. The Out & Equal ERG Registry is one of many lists. To find a GLBT ERG at a company read more
Professional Associations
American Veterans for Equal Rights
AVER is a non-profit, chapter-based association of active, reserve and veteran service LGBT members dedicated to full and equal rights and equitable treatment for all present and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals
The combined vision and mission of the Consortium is to achieve higher education environments in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni have equity in every respect. The Consortium’s goals are to support colleagues and develop curriculum to professionally enhance this work; to seek climate improvement on campuses; and to advocate for policy change, program development, and establishment of LGBT Office/Centers.
Federal GLOBE
Federal GLOBE’s chartered purpose is to eliminate prejudice and discrimination in the federal government based on sexual orientation by (1) developing and providing educational programs, materials and assistance mechanisms which address the distinctive concerns and problems of lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals in the federal government and (2) educating the general public, policy makers, and federal employees about issues of concern to lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals.
National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
The NGLCC is the business advocate and direct link between LGBT business owners, corporations, and government, representing the interests of more than 1.4 million LGBT businesses and entrepreneurs. The NGLCC is committed to forming a broad-based coalition of LGBT owned and friendly businesses, professionals, and major corporations for the purpose of promoting economic growth and the prosperity of its members.
National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA)
The NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working from within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members.
The National LGBT Bar Association (NLGBTBA)
The National LGBT Bar Association is a national organization of lawyers, judges and other legal professionals, law students, activists, and affiliate LGBT legal organizations. The NLGBTBA promotes justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBT community in all its diversity through advocacy, programs and services.
National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Science and Technical (NOGLSTP)
NOGLSTP is a national organization of GLBT people (and their advocates) employed or interested in scientific or high technology fields. NOGLSTP’s goals include educating the scientific and general communities about LGBT issues in science and the technical workplace; dialogue with professional societies and associations; improving its member’s employment and professional environment; and fostering networking and mentoring among its members.
Out Professionals
The goal of Out Professionals is to provide its members with the resources they need to effectively network with other LGBT professionals. This is accomplished through a job bank and year-round events that focus on career, community and culture.
Pride at Work
A labor union constituency group of the AFL-CIO aimed at fostering equal treatment of LGBT union members and full workplace equality. Pride at Work mobilizes mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBT Community around organizing for social and economic justice.
Regional LGBT Professional Organizations
Job Portals
There are niche GLBT career sites that provide job postings, career management tools and resources needed to successfully navigate in U.S. workplace. Those listed below offer free or no registration requirements and some of have confidential personal Job Search Agents.
http://www.gayjob.biz/
http://www.glpcareers.com/
http://lgbtcareerlink.com/
http://progayjobs.com/jobseeker.php
http://www.simplyhired.com/a/special-searches/glbt-friendly%E2%80%A8
Books
Straight Talk About Gays in the Workplace (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies)
Lavender Road To Success: The Career Guide by Kirk Snyder
The resources listed above are but a few. If you have additional sources to recommend to our readers, please post them in the comments section.
Posted by Murray A. Mann and Rose Mary Bombela-Tobias
Principals, Global Diversity Solutions Group, LLC
Authors, Barron’s The Complete Job Search Guide for Latinos
http://www.diversityintelligence.com/wordpress/?p=53
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