The Human Rights Campaign’s 2012 Corporate Equality Index chronicles a decade of progress in workplace equality. 2012 marks the first year of new more stringent criteria regarding transgender health benefits. 190 participants earned the top rating of 100 percent, evidence the CEI has helped transform the American workplace for the better over the past ten years.

The HRC’s CEI report, released each fall, provides an in-depth analysis and rating of large U.S. employers and their policies and practices pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Businesses rated 100% are recognized in our “Best Places to Work” list, and are invited to apply for the HRC Award for Workplace Equality Innovation. All consumer-oriented businesses are included in our “Buying for Equality” guide.

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“The National Football League has formally prohibited discrimination against players based on sexual orientation, according to the new contract inked between players and owners.

“Among the additions made to the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement this summer was the phrase, ’sexual orientation,’ in the section listing what owners and the NFL Player’s Association are forbidden to consider in their treatment of a player.

“The collective bargaining agreement was approved by the players Aug. 4.

“‘There will be no discrimination in any form against any player by the Management Council, any Club or by the NFLPA because of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or activity or lack of activity on behalf of the NFLPA,’ the new agreement reads, according to The Huffington Post, drawing from an earlier article by the website Wide Rights.”

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Until after high school, I always thought the word “gay” meant happy. I had always been called “queer”, “faggot” and other derogatory names that definitely could not be considered as ego builders for a young teenager. After I graduated from high school, I went to work where I was befriended by another gay man who introduced me to the local gay community in my home town, such as it was. We had two gay bars that were private clubs with locked doors. I finally felt that I was among my element and made many friends and became an active part of my home town gay community. I was finally out, or at least as out as I could be in 1970, in a small W.Va. college town. We still had to be careful in those days but at least we did have a place of our own where we could be ourselves.

During the 1970’s gays became a little more accepted and we did have some accepting straight friends and neighbors but we still had to be careful who we came out to. In 1975 I met my first partner and moved with him to Pittsburgh, Pa. That move changed my life forever. In Pittsburgh I could be totally out (except at work, of course). I lived in Pittsburgh for 16 years as an “Out Gay Man” and I have never looked back into the closet except to decide what to wear that day.

I have made and lost many friends over the years, both gay and straight, but I could not be happier with my current life. In 2006, the company where I worked for the past 17 ½ years decided that it needed to embrace diversity on a greater scale, the company was already (unofficially) known to be “gay friendly”. They started several employee resource groups, one being for LGBT employees. At age 58, it finally became very clear to me that this country was changing for the better. I, along with two other friends/co-workers, founded the LGBT Employee Network, with the full support and backing of our company, including our CEO.

We have built the our network to over 60+ members, both LGBT and many straight allies. We have made quite a name for ourselves over the past 4 years by participating in many activities in Tampa Bay’s gay community.

At age 58, I finally realized why God intervened and spared my life. I am now 62 yrs. old and I lead a very fulfilling life as an out gay man. Many people out there say that being gay is a choice. Believe me, when I say it is NOT a choice and I am living proof. In my family, alone, I have two first cousins who are gay and they are also brother and sister. My best friend is gay and so is his brother. For this reason, I am totally convinced that being gay is genetic and there is nothing we or anyone else can do to prevent it. When people ask me why I chose to be gay, I always respond by throwing their same question back at them,“When did you choose to be straight?”

The point I am trying to make is that “It Does Get Better” and it IS OK to be gay. Your teen years will definitely be the toughest years of your life, and you just need to hang in there and keep a positive attitude. Surround yourself by others like you. DO NOT let the derogatory comments drag you down. You are a better person than the bullies. You are a human being and deserve to be treated as such. Don’t let anyone convince you that you are not a good person just because you were born gay.

It’s sad to know that although my mother says she’s supportive, that she says hateful, closed-minded things about it when she’s angry.

It’s sad to hear that many people who say they support LGBT people, don’t know what transgender means.

It’s sad that after confessing to loved ones about being trans, that they refuse to acknowledge it.

It’s sad when people who disapprove of who I am go out of their way to make me feel horrible. That people who are supposed to care about me over-emphasize “SHE” when talking about me, or use my birth name with a spiteful tone.

It’s sad when people call a boy a lesbian.

It’s sad to feel like I have to hide who I am when looking for a job, for fear that a potential employer would be less likely to hire me.

It’s even more sad to know that as difficult as my life may seem, that there are countless others who suffer so much more than I.

But it’s truly inspiring and heart warming to know that there are people out there who give a damn, and who are working hard to make this world a place where we can all find happiness.

One day from my one year mark at that job, the head boss called me into her office and there were two other women sitting down in chairs. They sat me down and asked me if I knew why I was there. I said because of something on my Facebook page – (I had already gotten in trouble for something on Facebook that I didn’t know I wasn’t allowed to do).

They told me it was because of the way I spoke to my girlfriend on Facebook. They said it was inappropriate. If I was sending dirty stuff to her then I would understand, but all I did on Facebook was tell her that I loved her. They told me it was wrong for someone like me to teach children about god when I directly went against his word.

They told me if I was still in the closet about it I would be allowed to work there. Since I had come out of the closet I realized I had never been happier. It hurt me to have to leave all my favorite kids behind, but my beautiful fiance helped me through it all. She made everything better.

I tried contacting my boss and she would never returned my phone calls. I asked a local lawyer what I could do about this, they told me that Alabama is a self employed state and that there was nothing I could do.

Since this I have been scared to go find a job and I have been living at home with my dad and grandfather.

I enjoyed every single day that I was at the school. As soon as word got around that I was a lesbian, that’s when the teachers shunned me and I was not asked to teach anymore. I loved those kids and was deeply hurt by this. There was nothing that I could do! My son was treated badly and two girls would often do underhanded things to him that just broke my heart as a mother.

He didn’t seem to mind, but if he did he never said because he loved me very much. My son did not want his picture placed in his 8th grade annual. I never knew the reason. Was it because he hated that school? Did these kids hide his paper that he was suppose to have sent home telling about the pics being in the annual? I don’t know.

I can remember another time when he wanted me to spray orange spray paint on his hair for a week. I remember asking him why he wanted to do this and he said that he just wanted to. But looking back, I figured that they were beginning to make fun of him,s o maybe he thought he would give them a real reason to laugh. I don’t know.

I stayed in this small community, held my head high and time moved on. My son has turned out to be a fine young man and I am very proud of him! He will be leaving for the Army soon and fighting for our country. We’ve been thru a lot. My divorce when my son was eight,was also terrible.

My ex told all of our neighbors about me being gay. He also was told me that we couldn’t stay in our home becaue he would burn it down. So we left to move in with my mom. I had to sneak back in to get our things.

Today, I am still out and will never hide who I am. I love my son, family, God and my country! I will continue being who I am and YES I Give a Damn for sure!!!

In Montana, unless you have a federal or state job, or it is worded into the discrimination policy of your employer, you face the possibility of going to work and being fired just for being gay, lesbian, bi or transgender.

In 2010, a town on our western border, Missoula, passed a city ordinance to protect the GLBT community from discrimination within the city. Now, in the 2011 Legislature, a Representative from up on the highline (near Canada) is trying to get a bill passed that would overturn that ordinance.

For a while, I had faith in Montana that eventually we would get past being a backwards state, and be as accepting as almost every other state. That faith was boosted a few days ago when I heard that the State Senate was working on a bill to add sexual orientation to the list of things protected from discrimination.

My coming out story has been extremely positive. I have helped spread education to the other police and fire departments along with emergency rooms to put a positive face on the transgender community. But we need all of your help. The gays and the lesbians have done a great job in education and promoting, the trans-community has not. I know that some people feel that the trans-community is the black sheep of the GLBT and this must change.

First off, I did not come out as gay and, second of all, that was just uncalled for. I no longer work there.

Thank you Give a Damn Campaign. That is just one of my many DAMN stories.

Peace and love,
Skylar