Many gay men and lesbians are crossing that last frontier and coming out in the workplace. At the same time, a steadily growing number of companies seek to attract and cultivate talented employees regardless of their sexual orientation. These companies and their employees have found they share a common cause in their search for the most productive and creative of work environments. This guide includes strategies for both, as well as an illuminating evaluation of 100 of the most gay-friendly companies - including large, small, nonprofit, publicly held, privately owned, and public agencies, in a wide variety of industries coast to coast. Companies are ranked as "excellent," "good," or "trying," based on both hard data and more subtle criteria regarding attitudes and social pressures. The 100 Best Companies For Gay Men and Lesbians offers a thoughtful explanation of gay and lesbian workplace issues, including: coming out - should you do it? when? how? what are the risks? the advantages?; discrimination and harassment - whether lesbian and gay employees receive equality in promotion and compensation, how companies do (or don't) respond to claims, and whether employees feel safe enough to make claims; domestic partner benefits - what are they? what do they really cost the company? what are the different approaches that various companies use?; finding and working with allies - labor unions, employee associations, individual managers, and more.For gay men and lesbians just starting out in the working world, for those contemplating career changes, for corporate managers, career counselors, recruiters and educators, for socially conscious investors, and for all those interested in harmonious and dynamic workplaces, The 100 Best Companies For Gay Men and Lesbians is essential reading. Read Less