Advocating for Business Support of GLBT Legislation
The Human Rights Campaign is actively seeking support from U.S. employers for the following pieces of federal legislation:
- Businesses support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act
- Businesses support the Tax Equity for Health Plan Beneficiaries Act
Build the Business Case
When advocating for businesses to support legislation that impacts gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender employees, it is important to keep the in mind business rationales and to be prepared for how your requests may be received.
- Think about where you have friends or colleagues in influential places (i.e., a chief executive officer, managing partner, chief operating officer or human resources director). If you do not have influential contacts in a company, discuss the legislation with your supervisor, colleague or friend that does.
- Develop a short set of talking points related to the legislation you want the company to support. Include:
- A historical overview of the bill
- An explanation of why the legislation is crucial to workplace fairness and beneficial to businesses
- Straightforward perspective on the legislation’s impact on the company (financial, etc)
- A list of current bill sponsors and the bill’s current status
- Focus on the benefit to the company and to the people you plan to speak to. Research relevant policies, benefits, and practices of the company.
- Recruitment and Retention
- Reputation and Marketing
The following are general resources related to marriage amendments, relationship recognition, and non-discrimination legislation:
- Supporting non-discrimination legislation
- Businesses support same-sex relationship recognition
Build Support
- Initial contact with a colleague or corporate executive about the legislation should encourage the listener to request more detailed information.
- Make yourself available to answer questions or talk through challenges. Ask whether you can follow up with more information.
- Ask your friends and colleagues to try this strategy or mobilize your GLBT employee resource group. Make it easy by sending them an e-mail that explains all of the points above and includes any documentation they might need (support forms, sample letters of support to legislators, business case presentations, etc.).
- Many businesses say they do not endorse legislation, but they typically make exceptions when the proposed legislation affects their industry. Remind leaders that the legislation affects every industry because it affects all employees across the United States.
- Remain persistent and respectful.
Secure the Endorsement
- When a business agrees to support legislation, make sure a representative of the business faxes the completed form or letter of support to you and to the HRC Workplace Project at 866-369-3348. This will help you follow its progress and to follow up with those who have verbally committed.
- Stay in touch with the Human Rights Campaign. If and when you succeed, report your results to workplace@hrc.org.