A State By State Examination of Non-Discrimination Laws and Policies

[Guest LizMarie]

This document may be of assistance to those wondering whether they are protected or not in a given state. As always, people should check the specific laws in your own state as things can change over time, but this document should be a useful starting point.

http://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2012/06/pdf/state_nondiscrimination.pdf

[Carolyn Marie]

Thanks for this link, LizMarie. I concur with your admonition to check current laws, as this document (at least for California) is rather out of date.

Carolyn Marie

[JenniferB]

The city I reside has had protections since 1999,although that doesn't pertain to state and federal work locations.

Jenny

[Drea]

Keep in mind that protections should in theory should create a better environment. Understand them and recognize they are there backing you up.

In practice, in my opinion pointing out protections to an employer while in the process of coming out is a good way to start to get ones employer to start to view one as a potential liability. Not a good thing. Such may be viewed as an implied threat handing there and there will be fear that no matter how much they try to make it work, said employee may not see it that way if they struggle and the employer feels they could end up on the wrong side of a lawsuit outside their control.

And if one finds oneself forced to point out protection to get an employer's agreement, unless it is just a situation with one boss and that boss gets dismissed (I've known where this has happened) one should recognize the handwriting is on the wall and plan on changing jobs eventually.

And if one is looking to relocate just to be someplace with protections, trans employment rates in those states with protections are slightly lower.