Human Rights Campaign Foundation Releases Business Guide for Supporting Employees in Texas and Beyond

WASHINGTON, DC - March 17, 2022 -Today, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization launched a guide for businesses in Texas and around the country on how to support transgender and other LGBTQ+ employees during recent waves of anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-transgender legislative attacks.

The new resource is called "An Employer Guide to Supporting Employees in Texas and Beyond." The resource shares best practices that companies can implement to foster a safe and affirming workplace environment for employees living in states currently considering, or which have previously passed, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.

"During a time that has left many businesses asking what they can do to help, this guide is an invaluable resource to help businesses support their employees-not only to create an inclusive workplace but publicly condemn harmful, discriminatory political actions" said Keisha Williams, Director of Workplace Equality at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. "We are seeing all over the country, not just in Texas, that transgender and LGBTQ+ employees, as well as transgender children, have been under relentless attacks, and now is the tipping-point for businesses to step-up and take meaningful action-this guide seeks to be a roadmap to businesses leaders ready to take the first-step."

The resource is divided into six sections that gives guidance and recommendations to companies in order to provide support to their LGBTQ+ employees. The six sections are:

• Stay Up to Date: How businesses can remain engaged in the public policy that impacts their employees, customers and business.
• Use the Power of Your Voice: How businesses can leverage their public platform to uplift LGBTQ+ equality and the actions businesses can take that show their actions are aligned with their messaging.
• Leverage Your Financial Power: A challenge for companies to assess whether their corporate giving aligns with their company's values.
• Engage Your Employees: Methods businesses can use internally to support and encourage their LGBTQ+ employees.
• Provide Options and Resources to Employees: How companies can help employees who are threatened by anti-LGBTQ+ state laws-from allowing employee relocation to expanding remote statuses.
• Think About the Bigger Picture: A challenge for companies to think beyond a one-off communication to consistently show up for their LGBTQ+ employees.

Last week, HRC and 60+ businesses released a sign-on letter, published as a full page ad in the Dallas Morning News, calling on Governor Abbott and public leaders across the country to abandon anti-LGBTQ+ efforts to write discrimination into law and policy. Apple, Capital One, Google, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce and Unilever are among the more than 60 businesses that signed the open lettercondemning hateful attacks from Texas elected leaders, led by Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.

While significant progress in the fight for LGBTQ+ equality has been made, there is still work to be done to ensure every workplace has inclusive policies and practices in place. Non-discrimination policies, benefits and other practices that include LGBTQ+ workers are essential for businesses as they compete for talent and customers. Through pioneering tools like the Corporate Equality Index, HRC works to provide employers the resources they need to improve and promote fairness in the workplace.

To learn more about the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Workplace Equality Program and access additional resources, please visit the HRC website.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people. Through its programs, the HRC Foundation seeks to make transformational change in the everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people, shedding light on inequity and deepening the public's understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, with a clear focus on advancing transgender and racial justice. Its work has transformed the landscape for more than 15 million workers, 11 million students, 1 million clients in the adoption and foster care system and so much more. The HRC Foundation provides direct consultation and technical assistance to institutions and communities, driving the advancement of inclusive policies and practices; it builds the capacity of future leaders and allies through fellowship and training programs; and, with the firm belief that we are stronger working together, it forges partnerships with advocates in the U.S. and around the globe to increase our impact and shape the future of our work.