GLBT Career Resources


Gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT) students who are preparing to enter into the workforce may find additional career planning challenges related to sexual orientation/gender identity. The college campus is for the most part a safe and affirming environment, but the real world and the workplace can be quite different. Career Services has identified some resources and websites that may be helpful for the GLBT career development and job search process.  Keep in mind that there is no one answer to the questions that you may face, but our career counselors are available to help you with questions regarding coming out at work, how to be out on your resume.  All of our counselors are Safe Zone Program members and are available to support you during your career development and job search process. 

Below you will find links to pages with information in categories to make your search for information simpler. 

   

 Identity Management: Out During the Job Search / At Work?

 

One of the most difficult questions to answer is whether to come out as GLBT during the job search process and then again when you are in your chosen workplace.  This is a very personal question with no "one size fits all" answer.  You will need to evaluate what is most important to you.  Some questions to consider:

  • Is it important for you to be yourself in the process and weed out employers who may not be supportive? 

  • Or is it important to you to work for a particular organization and not be out as GLBT so that you do not have to worry about facing potential discrimination? 

  • Do you prefer to keep your private life private or do you want to be able to discuss your personal life with your coworkers? 

These and many others are questions that you will need to consider before you start the job search process.  Our career counselors are available to sit down with you and discuss your questions and concerns.  Below you will find some additional resources compiled from career centers across the country to help you in making this decision. 

  • Out in the Workplace? A Guide from Career Services - This guide written by Career Services counselors at the University of Pennsylvania offers advice about coming out during the job search process and in the workplace, in addition to resume writing and interviewing tips.

  • Coming out at work - Advice on coming out at work from the business editor of Gay.com.

  • Out on a job interview? - Brief article discussing considerations for coming out during the job application and interview process.

You might want to read Ron Hayden's 1993 column about being out on the job search. Although dated, many of his thoughts still reflect today's workplace.

 

"Straight Jobs, Gay Lives" - Power Point presentation by Mark Brostoff of Indiana University's Career Services office which discusses issues related to the GLBT job search and being out in employment settings. 

Sexual Orientation and Career Decision Making - Excellent resources guide from Lawrence University’s Career Services office.  The guide provides information on resumes, interviews, employer research, workplace discrimination, and coming out in the workplace.

 Workplace / Employment Information for GLBT Students

 

Once you have made the personal decision of how to conduct your job search process, it will be important to be aware of workplace and employment issues that could affect you now and in the future.  Here is a collection of articles, resources and organizations that discuss GLBT workplace issues and provide support and advice on various career-related topics. 

  • Gay.com: Business & Careers - Website with advice on career-related and financial issues.

  • ACLU - The Lesbian and Gay Rights Project offers articles, news updates, and legislation summaries of workplace issues affecting GLBT persons.

  • The Gay Financial Network - Current events and articles, financial planning resources, and career advice are among the topics featured on this site. Visit their Career Center to read articles about employment issues, get resume writing advice, and tips for successful interviewing.

  • National Gay & Lesbian Task Force - Political organization that promotes GLBT issues nationally. 

  • Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network - National organization that aims to educate individuals to make schools safe for everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. 

  • Pride Links - Search engine for GLBT resources. 

  • Queer Resources Directory - Includes links to workplace and domestic partner resources, as well as queer friendly businesses.

  •  Human Rights Campaign WorkNet - The best source of information on workplace and corporate policies related to sexual orientation and gender identity.  

  • Gender Sanity - A collection of resources about transitioning on the job and other issues transsexual and transgender workers and their employers may face.

  • DiversitySearch.com - This site is a diversity career portal for minorities, women and other job seekers and diversity recruiters.

  • Out & Equal - "Out & EqualTM Workplace Advocates is the pre-eminent national organization devoted to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community in the workplace.  Website includes resources, links and information about their national event.

  • OutProfessionals.org - OutProfessionals is a job search and networking web site including a directory of businesses, women's network, GLBT events and links, and volunteer opportunities.

  • Diversity Working - This site has resources and advice, as well as job listings, for various minority groups, including the GLBT Community.

  • Pride at Work - Mobilizes mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the GLBT Community around organizing for social and economic justice. 

 Finding GLBT Friendly Employers

 Did you know?

  • 212 of Fortune 500 companies offer domestic partner health benefits.
  • 358 of Fortune 500 companies have non-discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and 26 include protections for transgender employees.
    (Above data quoted from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation)

These and more are important considerations that you should be making when evaluating organizations that you wish to work for.  Many major organizations nationally are providing rights and protections to the GLBT community that have not been available previously, but there are still less progressive companies out there.  Part of the job search process will include identifying safe and affirming organizations that will provide you the benefits and supports necessary for happy and productive work.  The following websites will assist you in identifying GLBT friendly employers and organizations.

Human Rights Campaign - Source of information on workplace and corporate attitudes and policies surrounding sexual orientation. 

Gayellow Pages - Organizations, businesses, and other resources for gays and lesbians – searchable by subject and location.

Worknet Employer Database - Provides information on companies with non-discrimination policies, domestic partner benefits, and GLBT employee groups.

Employers With Transgender Non-Discrimination Policies

Queer Resources Directory - Online directory with information about legal employers, companies with non-discrimination policies inclusive of sexual orientation, and companies providing domestic partner benefits.

Echelon Magazine - The Source for GLBT Business. 

Google list of GLBT workplace support groups, in both the public and private sectors.
Equality Forum's Fortune 500 Project details the list's organizations that do and do not have non-discrimination policies including sexual orientation.

Federal GLOBE
Want to work for the federal government?  Learn more about the federal government's network of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Employees. Includes a national register of openly GLBT individuals in the federal government.

Job Posting Websites

 

Another way to identify GLBT friendly employers is to identify job postings and organizations that value and target diverse workers.  The following websites and organizations have job postings with GLBT friendly organizations, organizations that value diversity or GLBT organizations that have job postings or internship opportunities available.

 

National Consortium of Directors of GLBT Resources in Higher Education - Includes job listings for college and university positions.

ProGayJobs.Com - First e-Recruitment site dedicated to gays and lesbians to get jobs in gay-friendly companies. The website provides job postings from companies that promote diversity and provide safe and open environments for Gay and Lesbian workers. 

GLP Careers - Jobs for the gay community.

www.hirediversity.com - An employment service for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender workers. Employers and recruiters can post job openings, and job seekers can post resumes.

Employment | National Gay and Lesbian Task Force – Employment and internship opportunities with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF)

http://www.webgrrls.com - A job search site specifically for women.

Idealist.org - Thousands of job listings, most in the non-profit sector. This website allows you to search by interest and includes "Gay, Lesbian, Bi, and Trans Issues" as an area of focus.

OpportunityKnocks.org - Nonprofit job listings in the areas of health, education, environment, arts and social services.

OutProfessionals.org - Job search and networking web site, including a directory of businesses, women’s network, GLBT events and links, and volunteer opportunities.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES with National Organizations

 www.apla.org - AIDS Project Los Angeles, one of the nation's largest AIDS service organizations, provides direct services to more than 10,000 men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles County.

www.aclu.org - The ACLU National Office in New York City offers the Crawford Fellowship focusing on lesbian and gay rights and AIDS Projects.

www.glaad.org - GLAAD is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

www.glad.org - Founded in 1978, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) is New England's leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, HIV status and gender identity and expression.

www.victoryfund.org - The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund provides strategic, technical and financial support to openly GLBT candidates and officials.

www.immigrationequality.org - The Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force (now called Immigration Equality) is a coalition of immigrants, attorneys and other activists who address the widespread impact of discriminatory immigration laws on the lives of those in the gay, lesbian, bisexual & transgender community and immigrants who are living with HIV/AIDS.

www.lambdalegal.org - Lambda Legal is a non-profit, national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, the transgender, and people with HIV/AIDS through impact litigation, education, and public policy work.

www.le-gal.org - LeGaL offers the Dr. M.L. "Hank" Henry, Jr. Fund for Judicial Internships. A $3,500 stipend is awarded to a law student to support a 10-week summer judicial internship in New York City under the auspices of the Lesbian and Gay Law Association Foundation of Greater New York ("LeGaL Foundation").

www.logcabin.org - Log Cabin Republicans is an organization dedicated to tolerance, fairness, and inclusion in the GOP.

www.nclrights.org - Located in San Francisco, NCLR is a national legal resource center with a primary commitment to advancing the rights and safety of lesbians and their families through a program of litigation, public policy advocacy, free legal advice and counseling, and public education. 

www.sldn.org - Service members Legal Defense Network (SLDN) is a national, non-profit legal services, watchdog and policy organization dedicated to ending discrimination against and harassment of military personnel affected by "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and related forms of intolerance.

www.srlp.org - The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income, and without facing harassment, discrimination or violence.

 

 Legal Issues

Part of your career and future planning should be an awareness of legal protections that are available to GLBT individuals in certain parts of the country.  Currently with no federal laws protecting GLBT rights in areas such as marriage, employment, adoption.  Therefore you should research what protections you have in the state and community that you plan to reside in as this can have an effect on your overall career choice.  Here are links and information on legal protections and organizations that advocate for GLBT rights. 

 

Lambda Legal - National GLBT civil rights organization; web site includes information about workplace discrimination cases.

National Gay & Lesbian Task Force - Issue Maps

Non-discrimination Laws - National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce (NGLTF) issue map of non-discrimination laws in the U.S.

Hate Crimes Map - NGLTF information on hate crime law protection for the GLBT community.

Parenting/Adoption - NGLTF information on parenting/adoption laws.

Relationship Recognition Map for Same-sex Couples  - National Gay & Lesbian Task Force have compiled this information on partner benefits.

Queer Resource Directory - This site has plethora of information on anything queer. Business, Legal and Workplace issues, including info on domestic partnerships.

American Civil Liberties Union - This site includes updates of recent legal issues and provides resources and information on rights and job discrimination policies.

Transgender Law and Policy Institute - Gathers info on employer and union policies, as well as laws related to gender identity/expression.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force  - Helps keep you up on the latest laws and issues.

National Gay and Lesbian Law Association - National Lesbian and Gay Law Association is an affiliate of the American Bar Association for the GLBT community. 

National Center for Lesbian Rights - The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of the GLBT community.

 National GLBT Organizations for Particular Majors

Business:

Lambda Business.com

Gay and Lesbian Association of Retired Persons

Education:

Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) - The Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

American Library Association GLBT Round Table

Entertainment:

Professional Organization of Women in Entertainment Reaching Up

Government:

Federal Globe - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Employees of the Federal Government  

Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies - GLIFAA is a non-profit that works to secure full parity for gay and lesbian personnel and their families in U.S. foreign affairs agencies serving in the United States and overseas.

Journalism:

National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association - An organization of journalists, online media professionals, and students who work from within the journalism industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues      

The Publishing Triangle - The purpose of the Publishing Triangle is to further the publication of books and other materials written by lesbian and gay authors or with lesbian and gay themes. 

The Commercial Closet Association - A non-profit educational and journalism organization that works to improve societal perceptions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through better portrayals in the most powerful cultural medium of our time--mainstream advertising.

Law:

Charles R. Williams Project - The Charles R. Williams Project on Sexual Orientation Law at UCLA is the nation's first think tank dedicated to the field of sexual orientation law and public policy. The Project supports legal scholarship, legal research, policy analysis, and education regarding sexual orientation discrimination and other legal issues that affect lesbian and gay people.

Minority Corporate Counsel Association - (MCCA) was founded to advocate for the expanded hiring, retention, and promotion of minority attorneys in corporate law departments and the law firms that serve them. There are resources listed on their website specifically targeting gay and lesbian lawyers.

Medicine:

Gay & Lesbian Medical Association - GLMA works to ensure equality in health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) individuals and health care professionals.

Lesbian & Gay Veterinary Medical Association - The Lesbian & Gay Veterinary Medical Association is a professional organization whose mission is to provide support for individuals, education to the community, and a forum for information exchange and social interaction.

The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality

Pilots:

National Gay Pilots Association - The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) is a national organization of Gay and Lesbian pilots and other aviation enthusiasts from across the country.

Psychology:

Association for Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Issues in Counseling - Advocacy and research organizations for GLBT issues in counseling and therapy.       

Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Psychotherapists Association

National Association of Lesbian & Gay Addiction Professionals

Science:

National Association of Gay Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals- A national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their advocates employed or interested in scientific or high tech fields.

      

National GLBT Workplace Groups

 

Out Professionals - NYACM was founded in 1983 by ten gay men and lesbians.  We didn't really know what to call this new group when we began, but we thought the title "New York Advertising and Communications Network" was descriptive yet generic enough to not offend straight sensibilities.

Pride at Work - AFL-CIO group that seeks to integrate GLBT concerns into the larger Labor Movement.

Common Ground: Diversity Consultation Firm

 

National GLBT Business Groups

 

International Gay/Lesbian Business Groups 

 

 GLBT Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources

BSC GLBTA Pride Center Scholarship Resources

 

GLBT Financial Aid Resources:

Point Foundation - The Point Foundation is the first and only nationwide GLBT scholarship organization that focuses exclusively on granting assistance to undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students of distinction.

Bill and Ann Shepherd Legal Scholarship - A scholarship between $1000-$3000 is offered by the founders of PFLAG, Bill and Ann Shepherd. Although based in Oregon, the applicant doesn't have to be from Oregon or intend to practice there.

GLBT Scholar - Links to various GLBT scholarship and financial aid resources.

Financial Aid for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Students
Describes a number of scholarships available to lesbian, gay and bisexual students. These scholarships offer a variety of criteria for eligibility. This is not an exhaustive list of all the possible sources of scholarships.

 Transgender Resources

When researching potential employers, consider the following information:
Career info for transgender individuals:

  • Does the employer's nondiscrimination statement explicitly include gender identity and/or gender expression?

  • Does the employer's city or state laws explicitly include gender identity and/or gender expression?

  • Do employee health benefits cover hormones, sex reassignment surgeries, or other trans-related health issues?

  • Does the employer's place of work have trans-friendly restrooms?

Transgender: Employment and Transition - Includes a FAQ section on transgender and transsexual issues, and a section on transitioning and employment.

Last Modified: August 26, 2009