Most Americans Say Employers Should Never Discriminate, Even on Religious Grounds, According to Latest Harris/Out & Equal Poll

SAN FRANCISCO, WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty years after its introduction, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is still being debated in Congress and across the United States. While most Americans continue to give the bill strong support, a new national survey shows that most Americans simply don't believe that employer exemptions are justified when it comes to basic workplace safeguards for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans.  Slightly over half (55%) of all adults don't believe that any employers should be exempt if federal law were expanded to include protection from job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

When asked specifically, some Americans do agree with certain exemptions. The latest survey shows only about a third (35%) of all adults believe churches or other houses of worship should be exempt, and three in ten (30%) believe privately held businesses with owners citing religious beliefs should be exempt. Also, just a fifth (21%) of adults believe publicly held businesses citing religious beliefs should be exempt, and 19% believe small businesses generally should be exempt.

"This year's survey reinforces what we are seeing in companies, government agencies and businesses around the country – even around the world-- that more and more business leaders are supporting workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees," said Selisse Berry, Founder, CEO, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. "While this is good news we still have work to do to protect employees who can still be fired in 29 U.S. states for being LGBT and in 32 if one is transgender. Out & Equal will continue to work with our partners to build workplace equality for all members of our LGBT community."

The 2014 Out & Equal Workplace Survey was conducted online between September 10 and 17, 2014, by The Harris Poll® in conjunction with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates and Witeck Communications, among 2,543 U.S. adults, of whom 2,068 indicated they are heterosexual and 354 self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender (which includes an over-sample of gay and lesbian adults). Begun in 2002, this survey has become a trusted annual barometer of attitudes surrounding LGBT issues in the workplace and is the longest-running national survey of its kind. (Full results, including data tables, available here)

Strong Support for Transgender Employees
The survey also showed continued support for federal policies that end job discrimination for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals, as well as transgender employees. Two-thirds (65%) of American adults agree that federal law should be expanded to include protection from job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Also, when it comes to protections for transgender employees, more than half (54%) of all adults strongly agree that transgender workers should be treated equally and fairly as all other workers.

Marriage Equality and the LGBT Workforce
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned significant portions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) last June, many states also have repealed their bans against same-sex marriage. With this sea change, growing numbers of LGBT employees wish to live and work in states that recognize their legal relationships today. The 2014 Out & Equal Workplace Survey reports that:

• Three out of five (60%) LGBT adults prefer a job with an employer in a state where same sex marriages are recognized over an employer in a state that does not recognize same sex marriages, other factors being equal, compared to 51% in 2012.
• Nearly a third (30%) of LGBT adults would consider changing jobs if their employer required them to transfer to a state where same sex marriages were not recognized, compared to 20% in 2012.
• Thirty percent (30%) would also consider declining a job promotion if it required them to transfer to a state where same sex marriages are not recognized, compared to 22% in 2012.

"This finding tells us that America's economy itself is bending towards marriage equality," said Bob Witeck, President of Witeck Communications. "Is there any wonder that same-sex couples and families bristle or object when job security conflicts with their family's security?"

2014 Out & Equal Workplace Summit
The Out & Equal Workplace Summit will open on Monday, November 3, and close on Thursday, November 6, 2014 in San Francisco, California. Nearly 2,500 attendees are expected from more than 30 countries. LGBT employees and straight allies, along with human resources and diversity professionals, representing a broad cross-section of the nation's leading companies—a majority from the Fortune 500—are now set to participate in this year's Summit, focused on achieving workplace equality.

For more information about the Summit or to register, please visit www.outandequal.org.

Methodology

This Harris Poll was conducted online (in partnership with Out & Equal and Witeck Communications) within the United States between September 10 and 17, 2014, among 2,543 adults (ages 18 and over), of whom 2,068 indicated they are heterosexual and 354 self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (including an over-sample of lesbian and gay adults).  Figures for age, sex, race, education, region and income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. In addition, the results for the gay and lesbian sample were weighted separately based on profiles of the gay and lesbian population that Harris Interactive has compiled through many different online surveys. Propensity score weighting also was used to adjust for respondents' propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and post-survey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, The Harris Poll avoids the words "margin of error" as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Poll, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

About Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is the world's premiere nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace equality. Out & Equal collaborates with Fortune 1000 companies and government agencies to provide a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for LGBT employees.

Since 1996, Out & Equal has worked with executives, human resources professionals and Employee Resource Groups to provide leadership and professional development, education and research.

Out & Equal hosts an annual Workplace Summit, where employees and experts from around the world gather to share strategies and best practices to create workplace equality, inclusive of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

For more information go to www.outandequal.org.

About The Harris Poll®

Begun in 1963, The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys measuring public opinion in the U.S. and is highly regarded throughout the world. The nationally representative polls, conducted primarily online, measure the knowledge, opinions, behaviors and motivations of the general public. New and trended polls on a wide variety of subjects including politics, the economy, healthcare, foreign affairs, science and technology, sports and entertainment, and lifestyles are published weekly. For more information, or to see other recent polls, visit the Harris Poll News Room.

About Witeck Communications, Inc.

Witeck Communications, Inc. (www.witeck.com) is a leading strategic marketing communications firm, specializing in outreach, respect and inclusion for diverse LGBT communities.  With more than two decades experience in this arena, Witeck Communications not only serves as a bridge between corporate America and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender consumers (LGBT), but also provides counsel to non-profit organizations that aim to educate the public on gay and lesbian issues or to better reach their LGBT membership.

In April 2003, American Demographics magazine identified Bob Witeck one of 25 experts over the last 25 years who has made significant contributions to the fields of demographics, market research, media and trend spotting for his pathbreaking work on the gay and lesbian market.  His book, co-authored with Wesley Combs, "Business Inside Out:  Capturing Millions of Brand Loyal Gay Customers" was published in the fall of 2006 by Kaplan Publishing. He has appeared in worldwide media outlets including Fortune, CNBC, Daily Telegraph, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, Ad Age, the New York Times and the Washington Post.

Press Contacts:

Joel Engardio   
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
415-694-6531 
[email protected]

Bob Witeck
Witeck Communications
202-887-8208
[email protected]

Larry Shannon-Missal
The Harris Poll
585-214-7647
[email protected] 

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SOURCE The Harris Poll

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