… male and female, it now includes a wide spectrum of groups such as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender (L.G.B.T). The most flourishing companies recognize the benefits of embracing a workforce with a broad variety of language skills, cultural backgrounds, age and physical disabilities.

According to Out & Equal, Fortune 500 companies are extending their diversity programs and initiatives further than the customary race, sex, sexual orientation, national origin and religion. Progressive companies are expanding their diversity plan to include their vendors and suppliers, who demand that diversity be an integral part of how companies do business. Today, the most successful company will be those that recognize the power of diversity in their workforce and product mix, and effectively create products and services that appeal to their increasingly diverse customer bases.

Recent statistics show that a growing number of Fortune 500, 100 and 50 companies are leading the way in creating an equal workplace for all regardless of sexual orientation, sexual identity, expression or characteristics.

Of Fortune 500 companies:

•82% include sexual orientation in their EOE policy
•10% include sexual identity and/or expression in their EOE statement
•46% offer domestic partner benefits, up from 4 percent in 1995
•17% offer spousal-equivalency benefits

Data also supports the notion that corporate leaders are leaders in equality:

•76% of Fortune 50 companies offer domestic benefits
•69% of Fortune 100 companies offer domestic benefits
•98% of Fortune 50 companies include sexual orientation in their written nondiscrimination policies
•96% for Fortune 100 companies includes sexual orientation in their written nondiscrimination policies.

Nationwide, 8250 employers including private employers and state and local governments, government agencies and colleges and universities provide domestic partner benefits. Although there are no federal laws in the U.S. that protect L.G.B.T’s, 15 states and District of Columbia have laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.

In the coming years, diversity will become even more important and the leaders in this category will be those best reflecting the increasingly diverse marketplaces they serve.