A new report has shown that almost half of the United States population do not work in states or counties that ensure anti-discrimination employment protections for LGBT workers.
Produced by the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), the report said that only 51% of the United States population is protected by “LGBT-inclusive workplace laws,” and only 56% are protected by “LGB-inclusive laws.”
As a result of comprehensive employment protections being geographically concentrated in just 30% of the country, LGBT people that live in urban counties are 50 times more likely to be protected than those living in rural counties.
The report also highlights that over 69% of the United States population are in favour of and support the creation of laws that would serve as protection for LGBTI people against discrimination in the workplace.
Ineke Mushovic, Executive Director of MAP said that the report further highlights the growing need for a federal equality act that includes employment anti-discrimination protections.
“There is a deep rural-urban divide when it comes non-discrimination protections for LGBT people,” said Ms Mushovic.
“Vast geographic stretches in this country, mostly in rural areas, lack LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination laws.”
Mushovic adds, “Advocates have done impressive work extending local protections, but an LGBT person in a state that lacks state-wide protections is 50 times more likely to be covered by local laws if he or she lives in an urban rather than a rural area.”
“State and federal-level non-discrimination laws are also essential in order to provide protections for everyone.”
The first LGB-inclusive local employment non-discrimination ordinance was passed in 1974 in Minneapolis.
Last Updated on Nov 2, 2015
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