Q. A student is beginning a job search and is seeking information regarding LBGT friendly places to work and/or LBGT-related career assistance. Do you have suggestions of resources, books, or websites that I can suggest this student check out?

A. The job search can be a stressful time for anyone but there are some special issues that confront LGBT students -- including whether to be out on the search, how to find companies or locations where discrimination based on sexual orientation is prohibited, etc. This page will offer some reading suggestions, some ideas from members of the Consortium, and websites for further exploration of the topic.

There are several books on career issues for LGBT people. Here are some that you might find of use in advising your student or adding to your office's lending library:

Baker, Daniel, Strub, S. O. and Henning, B. (1995). Cracking the Corporate Closet: The 200 Best (and Worst) Companies to Work for, Buy from, and Invest in if You're Gay or Lesbian - and Even if You Aren't. New York: HarperBusiness.

Dunne, G.A. (1996). Lesbian Lifestyles: Women's Work and the Politics of Sexuality. University of Toronto Press.

Ellis, A.L. & Riggle, E. D. B. (Eds.) (1996). Sexual Identity on the Job: Issues and Services. New York: Harrington Park Press.

Friskopp, A. and Silverstein, S. (1995). Straight Companies, Gay Lives: Gay and Lesbian Professionals, the Harvard Business Schooll, and the American Workplace. New York: Simon and Schuster.

McNaught, B. (1994). Gay Issues in the WorkPlace. St. Martin's Press.

Mickens, Ed (1994). The 100 Best Companies for Gay Men and Lesbians. New York: Pocket Books.

Miriam, F. (1990) Pride at Work: Organizing for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Unions. New York: Lesbian and Gay Labor Network.

Powers, B. and Ellis, A. (1995). A Manager's Guide to Sexual Orientation in the Workplace. New York: Routledge.

Rasi, R.A. (Editor) (1995). Pleasures and Perils of Coming Out on the Job. Alyson Publications.

Rasi, R. A & Rodriguez-Nogues, D.M.L. (Eds.) (1995). Out in the workplace. Los Angeles: Alyson.

Vargo, M.E. (1998). Acts of Disclosure: The Coming Out Process of Contemporary Gay Men. Haworth Press, Inc. 1998. 

Winfeld, L. and Spielman, S. (1995). Straight Talk about Gays in the Workplace. New York: Amacom,.

Woods, J. D. (1993) The Corporate Closet: The Professional Lives of Gay Men in America. New York: Free Press.

Stephen Collingsworth, Coordinator for LGBT Issues at Williams College, has offered resume writing/interviewing workshops for Queer students. How to ask the questions we need to ask, what those questions are, how to take Queer Organization college experience and translate it into useable, closeted material in resumes. He notes that latter choice can be difficult for him to endorse -- coming to terms with students who were out on campus and wanting to go back into the closet for their career.

Jonnie Owens, coordinator Cal Poly Pomona Pride Center, called a colleague in her campus' Career Center who is a vocal ally. At Jonnie's request, she put together a career workshop with handouts, etc. and does the workshop at least once a year for students who use the Pride Center.

For online resources, check out:

Lawrence University Career Center's page of GLBT resources

University of Pennsylvania's LGBT Career Resources (this site includes an extensive "Career Planning and Job Search Guide for LGBT Students and Alumni")

Gay Business and Professional Organizations

Gaywork.com - A fairly new web site that includes information on "family" friendly employers. You can post your resume and search job openings with companies who are GLBT friendly.

Gay Financial Network- This site offers a wealth of information on companies, financial planning, careers, and more, including their gfn.com 500 (the top GLBT-friendly companies).

HRC WorkNet: This portion of the HRC site includes Which employers have LGBT-friendly policies, What you should do if you've been discriminated against at workm and an extensive workplace bibliography.

PlanetOut.com (click on "Money and Careers"): The site includes Queer Careers, Career expert, Career links, Find the right job, and How queer is your company?

ProGayJobs.Com - this is a recruiment site aimed at assisting gay and lesbian people find jobs in gay-friendly companies.

Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund:  Check out the "Issues" section for current information about laws, legislation, and court cases related to employment as well as information on non-discrimination policies. The ACLU's listing of State and Local Laws Protecting Lesbians and Gay Men Against Workplace Discrimination and Larry Stratton's list of educational Institutions and employers that include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination clauses can also be useful tools in helping to identify LGB-affirmative institutions/employers.

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. The Queer Resources Directory offers a 1994 column by John J. Kinyon on "Out on a Job Interview?"

This answer was compiled by David Barnett and supplemented by contributions of members of the Consortium. Dr. Barnett may be reached at davidcbarnett@earthlink.net.

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