Gays and lesbians have been forming support groups in the workplace in order to transform the corporate culture. The main objective of LGBT support groups in the workplace has been creating a written nondiscrimination policy that involves the employees’ sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and characteristics.

The support groups for the LGBT community in the workplace have started cropping up in the late 1980s. Today, those employers who are slow to create LGBT-friendly workplaces are putting themselves at a competitive disadvantage. It is estimated that there are more than seven millions gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees in America’s private sector.

Unfortunately, it is still the case that many LGBT employees leave their jobs due to unfair treatment and discrimination. The legal regulation of LGBT employment discrimination varies by jurisdiction. A vast majority of states and localities prohibit bias in hiring, promotion, job assignment, termination, and compensation, and forbid the harassment of LGBT population in the workplace.

The newest human rights reports show that the corporate America is increasingly standing by their LGBT employees in record numbers. 2014 is the first year in history in which over sixty percent of the Fortune 500-ranked companies include sexual orientation and gender identity protection. In a way, it’s just good business sense to strive for an LGBT-friendly work environment: only an employee who feels comfortable with who he is can give his best in the workplace, feel valued, and stay loyal to the company.

More than three hundred major businesses, spanning just about every industry and major geography, have earned a right to be called an LGBT-friendly workplace. They are not only explicitly guaranteeing their LGBT employees fair treatment and compensation, but many have also updated their benefits packages accordingly, and are actively fighting for nationwide full legal protection from workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

All this is very encouraging, but there is still much room to improve and further promote equality in the workplace. LGBT support groups in the workplace can help create the culture of acceptance that is needed for this to happen.

LGBT support groups in the workplace can, amongst the other, offer assistance to the employees that identify as gay or lesbian fight harassment on the job. In recent times, for example, they are seeking insurance companies that accept same-sex partners as beneficiaries. Both company management and work colleagues can learn about gay and lesbian issues from these support groups.

Amerigroup (Wellpoint) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and offers gay and lesbian association groups.