Everyone deserves to feel protected by the company they work for.

For a long time, Queer people were forced to remain in the closet at their jobs, but we were granted protection from discrimination in the workplace as a result of two landmark decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States in 2020. While this was a great step for LGBTQ+ equality, many companies aren’t clear how to implement this change.

In this episode, I offer provide exactly what needs to go into your company’s non-discrimination policy to make sure you are compliant with protecting Queer people and your business.

I discuss the psychological harm that comes from having to hide who you are and reflect on how teachers being forced to remain closeted left me with limited support when I came out in high school.

I also share about how being an openly gay person has played out for me in professional settings, including when a former boss encouraged me to be transparent with my identity as a way to build rapport, contrasted with another time when I was pulled into a closed-door meeting with a superior, told not to push my agenda, and threatened with losing my job.