Number of Businesses Protecting LGBT Employees Growing
Human Rights Campaign Foundation, February 2009
According to a study by the Washington, DC-based Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 35 percent (175) of the Fortune 500 businesses have gender identity protections, including 60 of the top 100 Fortune-ranked businesses. In 2000, only three of the Fortune 500 businesses had such protections, the study notes. Additionally, 85 percent of these businesses now have protections based on sexual orientation, compared to 51 percent in 2000.
The report assesses the current state of employment laws and employer policies surrounding gender identity and sexual orientation throughout the United States. For the first time, more than 100 cities and counties now prohibit employment discrimination based on both gender identity and sexual orientation. Already, 12 states and the District of Columbia have protections in place. An additional eight states and 80 cities and counties prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation alone.
In addition, the study finds, more employers have improved benefits to ensure fair treatment of LGBT employees and their families. Since 2006, a majority of Fortune 500 companies have offered benefits to same-sex partners of employees. Today, 57 percent (286) of the Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner benefits. Removing discriminatory exclusions for medically necessary, transgender-specific treatment is a rapidly-emerging trend. Eighteen of the Fortune 100 now provide transgender-inclusive health insurance, compared to just one in 2001.
