A growing number of states prohibit discrimination against gay and lesbian employees.

Traditionally, gay and lesbian employees have found little in the law to protect them from discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Times are changing, however, and a growing number of employers are finding themselves responsible for providing a workplace that's free of harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Antidiscrimination Laws

While there is no federal law that prohibits this type of discrimination in private employment, an executive order specifically outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal government.

Fifteen states and the District of Columbia have laws that currently prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in private employment: California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Illinois has also passed such a law that will go into effect on January 1, 2006. (In addition, seven states have laws prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination in public workplaces only: Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Pennsylvania, and Washington.)

Locally, more than 180 cities and counties nationwide prohibit sexual orientation discrimination in at least some workplaces -- from Albany, New York to Ypsilanti, Michigan.

If you are a private employer and you operate your business in a state, county, or city with a law or ordinance prohibiting sexual orientation discrimination, you must follow that law despite the fact that there is no federal law in place.

To find out whether your state, county, or city has a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, contact your state labor department or your state fair employment office. You can also visit the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund website at http://www.lambdalegal.org, where you will find a state-by-state list of antidiscrimination laws, including city and county ordinances.