WASHINGTON - The Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the nation's largest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender civil rights organization, today released its annual list of the "Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality." A total of 195 companies that achieve this honor will use the 2008 "Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality" seal to distinguish their company as a fair-minded employer. The seal is given to companies who score a perfect 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index which measures policies and practices implemented to promote fairness and equality in the workplace for GLBT employees.

"We honor the companies awarded for being the 'Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality,'" said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. "Each of these companies is working hard to transform their workplaces and make them safer for millions of employees around the country. We can now say that at least 10 million employees are protected on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity on the job."

The 2008 Corporate Equality Index report, released this past fall, awarded an unprecedented 195 major U.S. businesses the top rating of 100 percent, up from 138 last year-a 41 percent increase. One of the CEI's major findings was that a majority of rated employers now offer workplace protections on the basis of gender identity-58 percent. That number has increased from just 29 percent in 2005.

To see a complete listing of companies who received the 2008 "Best Places to Work for GLBT Equality" seal and to find an image of the seal, please visit: www.hrc.org/placestowork.

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.