1. LGBT at USDA:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Special Emphasis Program
Presented by Perry Stevens
LGBT Special Emphasis Program Manager
United States Department of Agriculture
June 8, 2011
Place your own name and contact information here….feel free to place your agency’s logo on the left side of the title page.

3. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
April 1993, Secretary Mike Espy issued the Department’s EEO and Civil Rights Policy Statement which specifically prohibited discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation.
USDA has been having “courageous conversations”…what are also referred as “critical conversations” for a long time.
We’re taking a look back at the history of sexual orientation diversity at the USDA. 3 3

4. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
June 1993, a Departmental Task Force was formed to develop recommendations designed to implement the Secretary’s policy regarding this issue.
But soon after this occurred, Secretary Espy left his position, and little was done….until 4

5. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
July 1999, USDA announced the formation of the Second USDA Task Force on Sexual Orientation.
July 1999, Secretary Dan Glickman announced the formation of another task force on sexual orientation. 5

6. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
“If the Department fully implements its sexual orientation nondiscrimination and diversity policy, USDA stands to gain greater openness, job satisfaction, and retention among its workforce; increased productivity and customer service; and the prevention of costly complaints. We have estimated the potential savings that could be realized by the Department through this course of action to be approximately $23 million annually.”
Report of the 2nd USDA Task Force on Sexual Orientation
The second task force concluded that not having a fully implemented sexual orientation nondiscrimination and diversity policy, the Department was losing productivity and customer service effectiveness. Having such a program would SAVE the Department approximately $23 million each year by avoiding costly complaints. 6

7. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Fall 2000 established a Secretary’s Advisory Council on sexual orientation: Gay & Lesbian Employee Advisory Council (GLEAC)
Advise USDA leadership on issues affecting GLBT employees.
Assist in the implementation of Departmental policies.
Develop and deliver training addressing sexual orientation nondiscrimination. 7

8. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
June 2009, Secretary Vilsack signed Departmental Regulation creating a Special Emphasis Program for LGBT employees. 8

9. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
“We’re going to sign a document that is our collective commitment from the leadership of the Department down to every single employee that suggests that diversity, including gay and lesbian diversity, is going to be celebrated, going to be recognized, and going to be part of the USDA experience.” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack USDA Pride Celebration June 4, 2009
Quote from Secretary Tom Vilsack at the Jun 2009 USDA Pride Celebration 9

10. Sexual Orientation Diversity in the U.S. Department of Agriculture
From 1999 till 2009, USDA had the Gay and Lesbian Employees Advisory Council (GLEAC)

11. Current Issues for LGBT Individuals in the United States
Employment protections
Same-sex partnerships
Domestic partner benefits
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Violence – Hate Crimes
Survey Results from
AT THE INTERSECTION: Race, Sexual Orientation & Gender
Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 2009
An overwhelming number (97 percent) of LGBTpeople of color say basic kitchen table issues such as affordable healthcare, jobs and the economy are important, but just as significant are racial and ethnic equality (97 percent) and prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS(96 percent). Also important is education (95 percent), affordable housing (94 percent), crime and violence (94 percent) and equality for LGBTpeople (93 percent). 11

12. Workplace Issues Heterosexism (institutionalized homophobia) Fear
Can be overt or hidden
Fear
Harassment & hostile work environment
Jokes, comments, threats
Lavender Ceiling
Advancement and promotion
Unconscious bias
Heterosexism is the belief that heterosexuality is the only “normal” sexual orientation. That all other sexual orientations are inferior or distasteful.
It can manifest itself in numerous ways…
Explicit or open discrimination
This type of heterosexism includes anti-gay laws, policies, and institutional practices, harassment based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; negative stereotyping, discriminatory language and discourse, and other forms of discrimination against gay men, lesbians, bisexuals such as:
Hate speech, terms of disparagement, hate mail, death threats, murder music
Scapegoating, mobbing, witch-hunts, moral panic; using gay men and homosexuality as a folk devil for the AIDS pandemic.
Negative portrayals or stereotypes of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals solely as villains, suicide or murder victims,[26] the butt of jokes, objects of curiosity. This can occur on television and in movies as well as in jokes between friends or among co-workers.
Using the gay panic defense in assault or murder cases.
Sodomy laws when enforced almost exclusively against consenting, adult, same-sex partners. See also: Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas
In some countries where homosexuality is criminalized, such as Sudan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, offenders may receive the maximum sentence of capital punishment. See also: Paragraph 175
Discrepancies in age of consent laws in which legal sexual activity between members of the same sex is set at a higher age than that for opposite-sex partners. Most such laws apply explicitly (or have historically applied) only to male homosexual sexual activity. See also: Morris v. The United Kingdom, State v. Limon
Prohibiting youth from bringing a same-sex date to high school prom.[27][28]See also: Fricke v. Lynch, Marc Hall v. Durham Catholic School Board
Adoption bans against either same-sex couples or gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals. See also: LGBT adoption, In re: Gill[29]
Legislation that prevents legal and social equality, i.e. laws that prohibit protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, particularly with regard to health care, housing, and employment.
The institution of opposite-sex marriage and reserving the right to marry strictly for opposite-sex couples via explicit definitions or through bans on same-sex marriage such as “marriage protection acts” or “defense of marriage acts”;[1] pp. 145–151 In order to obtain the legal protections of marriage, same-sex couples who cannot get married must pay thousands of (U.S.) dollars in attorney's fees.[30]
Also, the above restriction even when same-sex couples have access to civil unions that are either analogous to or not on a par with marriage;
Reserving civil unions strictly for opposite-sex couples;
Barring gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving in the armed forces or from working in the education field; this can include policies such as the U.S. military’s “Don't ask, don't tell” policy or Lech Kaczyński and other conservative Polish politicians’ stance to exclude gay men and lesbians from entering the teaching profession. See also: LGBT rights in Poland
Organized opposition to gay rights; labeling such rights and privileges as "special rights" or the "Gay Agenda";
Referring to a suspected criminal's homosexuality or bisexuality when in analogous situations there is no mention of a suspect's heterosexuality.
Implicit or hidden discrimination
This form of heterosexism operates through invisibility, underrepresentation, and erasure. It includes:
Lack or underrepresentation of homoesexual or bisexual people in advertising to the general public;
Censorship of homosexual or bisexual characters, themes, and issues in works of art, literature, entertainment; see also "Sugar Time" episode of Postcards from Buster
Exclusion of historical and political figures’ and celebrities’ homosexuality or bisexuality; their portrayal as heterosexuals;
Complete avoidance of mentioning these people and their positive contributions particularly in news media;
In the context of sex education or professional advice, referring only to opposite-sex partners when discussing female or male sexual attraction and activity;
Silence on issues affecting homosexual and bisexual peoople at school or work or absence of their discussion in a positive light; *Implementation and use of content-control software (censorware) to filter out information and websites that focus on homosexuality or bisexuality;
Postal censorship and border control or customs seizure of publications deemed obscene solely on the basis of them containing material related to homosexuality even when they contain no erotic or pornographic material; see also Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium
Work environments that tacitly require gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals not to reveal their sexual orientation via discussion of their relationship status while heterosexuals can discuss their relationships and marital status freely;
At public libraries or bookstores: rejection, removal or destruction of books (e.g. Jenny lives with Eric and Martin), films, and posters with homosexual themes;
Refusal to include families headed by parenting|same-sex parents at school events or to represent such family diversity in school curricula; see also anti-bias curriculum;
Coercive or forced sex reassignment surgery on gay men, lesbian women, and bisexuals – an issue addressed in Tanaz Eshaghian's 2008 documentary, Be Like Others. See also: LGBT rights in Iran
Forced disappearance, damnatio memoriae, ostracism, shunning, and other forms of social rejection geared towards making homosexual or bisexual people personae non gratae.
Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships.[1] It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm[2] and therefore superior. Although heterosexism is defined in the online editions of the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary as anti-gay discrimination and/or prejudice "by heterosexual people"[3] and "by heterosexuals",[4] people of any sexual orientation can hold such attitudes and bias. Nonetheless, heterosexism as discrimination ranks gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and asexual people as second-class citizens with regard to various legal and civil rights, economic opportunities, and social equality in the majority of the world’s jurisdictions and societies. 12

13. Workplace Issues Heterosexism
A system of attitudes, bias and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships.
It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm and therefore superior.
People of any sexual orientation can hold such attitudes and bias. Nonetheless, heterosexism as discrimination ranks gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people as second-class citizens with regard to various legal and civil rights, economic opportunities, and social equality in the majority of the world’s jurisdictions and societies.
Definition acquired at:
1 Jung, Patricia Beattie; Smith, Ralph F. (1993). Heterosexism: An Ethical Challenge. State University of New York Press. ISBN   
2 a b
3 accessed Oct 9, 2009

14. Workplace Issues Heterosexism Can be explicit or open discrimination:
Anti-gay laws, policies and institutional practices
Harassment based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation
Negative stereotyping
Discriminatory language
Using the “gay panic” defense in assault and murder cases
Heterosexism is the belief that heterosexuality is the only “normal” sexual orientation. That all other sexual orientations are inferior or distasteful.
It can manifest itself in numerous ways…
Explicit or open discrimination
This type of heterosexism includes anti-gay laws, policies, and institutional practices, harassment based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; negative stereotyping, discriminatory language and discourse, and other forms of discrimination against gay men, lesbians, bisexuals such as:
Hate speech, terms of disparagement, hate mail, death threats, murder music
Scapegoating, mobbing, witch-hunts, moral panic; using gay men and homosexuality as a folk devil for the AIDS pandemic.
Negative portrayals or stereotypes of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals solely as villains, suicide or murder victims,[26] the butt of jokes, objects of curiosity. This can occur on television and in movies as well as in jokes between friends or among co-workers.
Using the gay panic defense in assault or murder cases.
Sodomy laws when enforced almost exclusively against consenting, adult, same-sex partners. See also: Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas
In some countries where homosexuality is criminalized, such as Sudan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, offenders may receive the maximum sentence of capital punishment. See also: Paragraph 175
Discrepancies in age of consent laws in which legal sexual activity between members of the same sex is set at a higher age than that for opposite-sex partners. Most such laws apply explicitly (or have historically applied) only to male homosexual sexual activity. See also: Morris v. The United Kingdom, State v. Limon
Prohibiting youth from bringing a same-sex date to high school prom.[27][28]See also: Fricke v. Lynch, Marc Hall v. Durham Catholic School Board
Adoption bans against either same-sex couples or gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals. See also: LGBT adoption, In re: Gill[29]
Legislation that prevents legal and social equality, i.e. laws that prohibit protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, particularly with regard to health care, housing, and employment.
The institution of opposite-sex marriage and reserving the right to marry strictly for opposite-sex couples via explicit definitions or through bans on same-sex marriage such as “marriage protection acts” or “defense of marriage acts”;[1] pp. 145–151 In order to obtain the legal protections of marriage, same-sex couples who cannot get married must pay thousands of (U.S.) dollars in attorney's fees.[30]
Also, the above restriction even when same-sex couples have access to civil unions that are either analogous to or not on a par with marriage;
Reserving civil unions strictly for opposite-sex couples;
Barring gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving in the armed forces or from working in the education field; this can include policies such as the U.S. military’s “Don't ask, don't tell” policy or Lech Kaczyński and other conservative Polish politicians’ stance to exclude gay men and lesbians from entering the teaching profession. See also: LGBT rights in Poland
Organized opposition to gay rights; labeling such rights and privileges as "special rights" or the "Gay Agenda";
Referring to a suspected criminal's homosexuality or bisexuality when in analogous situations there is no mention of a suspect's heterosexuality.
Implicit or hidden discrimination
This form of heterosexism operates through invisibility, underrepresentation, and erasure. It includes:
Lack or underrepresentation of homoesexual or bisexual people in advertising to the general public;
Censorship of homosexual or bisexual characters, themes, and issues in works of art, literature, entertainment; see also "Sugar Time" episode of Postcards from Buster
Exclusion of historical and political figures’ and celebrities’ homosexuality or bisexuality; their portrayal as heterosexuals;
Complete avoidance of mentioning these people and their positive contributions particularly in news media;
In the context of sex education or professional advice, referring only to opposite-sex partners when discussing female or male sexual attraction and activity;
Silence on issues affecting homosexual and bisexual peoople at school or work or absence of their discussion in a positive light; *Implementation and use of content-control software (censorware) to filter out information and websites that focus on homosexuality or bisexuality;
Postal censorship and border control or customs seizure of publications deemed obscene solely on the basis of them containing material related to homosexuality even when they contain no erotic or pornographic material; see also Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium
Work environments that tacitly require gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals not to reveal their sexual orientation via discussion of their relationship status while heterosexuals can discuss their relationships and marital status freely;
At public libraries or bookstores: rejection, removal or destruction of books (e.g. Jenny lives with Eric and Martin), films, and posters with homosexual themes;
Refusal to include families headed by parenting|same-sex parents at school events or to represent such family diversity in school curricula; see also anti-bias curriculum;
Coercive or forced sex reassignment surgery on gay men, lesbian women, and bisexuals – an issue addressed in Tanaz Eshaghian's 2008 documentary, Be Like Others. See also: LGBT rights in Iran
Forced disappearance, damnatio memoriae, ostracism, shunning, and other forms of social rejection geared towards making homosexual or bisexual people personae non gratae.
Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships.[1] It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm[2] and therefore superior. Although heterosexism is defined in the online editions of the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary as anti-gay discrimination and/or prejudice "by heterosexual people"[3] and "by heterosexuals",[4] people of any sexual orientation can hold such attitudes and bias. Nonetheless, heterosexism as discrimination ranks gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and asexual people as second-class citizens with regard to various legal and civil rights, economic opportunities, and social equality in the majority of the world’s jurisdictions and societies. 14

15. Heterosexism Workplace Issues
Can be implicit or hidden discrimination:
Operates through invisibility, underrepresentation, and erasure
Exclusion of historical and political figures’ and celebrities’ homosexuality or bisexuality—and complete avoidance of mentioning these people and their positive contributions to society
Work environments that tacitly require LGBT individuals not to reveal their sexual orientation via discussion of their relationship status while heterosexuals can discuss their relationships and marital status freely.
Heterosexism is the belief that heterosexuality is the only “normal” sexual orientation. That all other sexual orientations are inferior or distasteful.
It can manifest itself in numerous ways…
Explicit or open discrimination
This type of heterosexism includes anti-gay laws, policies, and institutional practices, harassment based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; negative stereotyping, discriminatory language and discourse, and other forms of discrimination against gay men, lesbians, bisexuals such as:
Hate speech, terms of disparagement, hate mail, death threats, murder music
Scapegoating, mobbing, witch-hunts, moral panic; using gay men and homosexuality as a folk devil for the AIDS pandemic.
Negative portrayals or stereotypes of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals solely as villains, suicide or murder victims,[26] the butt of jokes, objects of curiosity. This can occur on television and in movies as well as in jokes between friends or among co-workers.
Using the gay panic defense in assault or murder cases.
Sodomy laws when enforced almost exclusively against consenting, adult, same-sex partners. See also: Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas
In some countries where homosexuality is criminalized, such as Sudan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, offenders may receive the maximum sentence of capital punishment. See also: Paragraph 175
Discrepancies in age of consent laws in which legal sexual activity between members of the same sex is set at a higher age than that for opposite-sex partners. Most such laws apply explicitly (or have historically applied) only to male homosexual sexual activity. See also: Morris v. The United Kingdom, State v. Limon
Prohibiting youth from bringing a same-sex date to high school prom.[27][28]See also: Fricke v. Lynch, Marc Hall v. Durham Catholic School Board
Adoption bans against either same-sex couples or gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals. See also: LGBT adoption, In re: Gill[29]
Legislation that prevents legal and social equality, i.e. laws that prohibit protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, particularly with regard to health care, housing, and employment.
The institution of opposite-sex marriage and reserving the right to marry strictly for opposite-sex couples via explicit definitions or through bans on same-sex marriage such as “marriage protection acts” or “defense of marriage acts”;[1] pp. 145–151 In order to obtain the legal protections of marriage, same-sex couples who cannot get married must pay thousands of (U.S.) dollars in attorney's fees.[30]
Also, the above restriction even when same-sex couples have access to civil unions that are either analogous to or not on a par with marriage;
Reserving civil unions strictly for opposite-sex couples;
Barring gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving in the armed forces or from working in the education field; this can include policies such as the U.S. military’s “Don't ask, don't tell” policy or Lech Kaczyński and other conservative Polish politicians’ stance to exclude gay men and lesbians from entering the teaching profession. See also: LGBT rights in Poland
Organized opposition to gay rights; labeling such rights and privileges as "special rights" or the "Gay Agenda";
Referring to a suspected criminal's homosexuality or bisexuality when in analogous situations there is no mention of a suspect's heterosexuality.
Implicit or hidden discrimination
This form of heterosexism operates through invisibility, underrepresentation, and erasure. It includes:
Lack or underrepresentation of homoesexual or bisexual people in advertising to the general public;
Censorship of homosexual or bisexual characters, themes, and issues in works of art, literature, entertainment; see also "Sugar Time" episode of Postcards from Buster
Exclusion of historical and political figures’ and celebrities’ homosexuality or bisexuality; their portrayal as heterosexuals;
Complete avoidance of mentioning these people and their positive contributions particularly in news media;
In the context of sex education or professional advice, referring only to opposite-sex partners when discussing female or male sexual attraction and activity;
Silence on issues affecting homosexual and bisexual peoople at school or work or absence of their discussion in a positive light; *Implementation and use of content-control software (censorware) to filter out information and websites that focus on homosexuality or bisexuality;
Postal censorship and border control or customs seizure of publications deemed obscene solely on the basis of them containing material related to homosexuality even when they contain no erotic or pornographic material; see also Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium
Work environments that tacitly require gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals not to reveal their sexual orientation via discussion of their relationship status while heterosexuals can discuss their relationships and marital status freely;
At public libraries or bookstores: rejection, removal or destruction of books (e.g. Jenny lives with Eric and Martin), films, and posters with homosexual themes;
Refusal to include families headed by parenting|same-sex parents at school events or to represent such family diversity in school curricula; see also anti-bias curriculum;
Coercive or forced sex reassignment surgery on gay men, lesbian women, and bisexuals – an issue addressed in Tanaz Eshaghian's 2008 documentary, Be Like Others. See also: LGBT rights in Iran
Forced disappearance, damnatio memoriae, ostracism, shunning, and other forms of social rejection geared towards making homosexual or bisexual people personae non gratae.
Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships.[1] It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm[2] and therefore superior. Although heterosexism is defined in the online editions of the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary as anti-gay discrimination and/or prejudice "by heterosexual people"[3] and "by heterosexuals",[4] people of any sexual orientation can hold such attitudes and bias. Nonetheless, heterosexism as discrimination ranks gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and asexual people as second-class citizens with regard to various legal and civil rights, economic opportunities, and social equality in the majority of the world’s jurisdictions and societies. 15

16. Workplace Issues Heterosexism
Can be implicit or hidden discrimination:
Removal of gay-themed materials from public libraries or bookstores
Refusal to recognize families headed by same-sex partners at businesses or school events
Heterosexism is the belief that heterosexuality is the only “normal” sexual orientation. That all other sexual orientations are inferior or distasteful.
It can manifest itself in numerous ways…
Explicit or open discrimination
This type of heterosexism includes anti-gay laws, policies, and institutional practices, harassment based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; negative stereotyping, discriminatory language and discourse, and other forms of discrimination against gay men, lesbians, bisexuals such as:
Hate speech, terms of disparagement, hate mail, death threats, murder music
Scapegoating, mobbing, witch-hunts, moral panic; using gay men and homosexuality as a folk devil for the AIDS pandemic.
Negative portrayals or stereotypes of gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals solely as villains, suicide or murder victims,[26] the butt of jokes, objects of curiosity. This can occur on television and in movies as well as in jokes between friends or among co-workers.
Using the gay panic defense in assault or murder cases.
Sodomy laws when enforced almost exclusively against consenting, adult, same-sex partners. See also: Bowers v. Hardwick and Lawrence v. Texas
In some countries where homosexuality is criminalized, such as Sudan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, offenders may receive the maximum sentence of capital punishment. See also: Paragraph 175
Discrepancies in age of consent laws in which legal sexual activity between members of the same sex is set at a higher age than that for opposite-sex partners. Most such laws apply explicitly (or have historically applied) only to male homosexual sexual activity. See also: Morris v. The United Kingdom, State v. Limon
Prohibiting youth from bringing a same-sex date to high school prom.[27][28]See also: Fricke v. Lynch, Marc Hall v. Durham Catholic School Board
Adoption bans against either same-sex couples or gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals. See also: LGBT adoption, In re: Gill[29]
Legislation that prevents legal and social equality, i.e. laws that prohibit protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, particularly with regard to health care, housing, and employment.
The institution of opposite-sex marriage and reserving the right to marry strictly for opposite-sex couples via explicit definitions or through bans on same-sex marriage such as “marriage protection acts” or “defense of marriage acts”;[1] pp. 145–151 In order to obtain the legal protections of marriage, same-sex couples who cannot get married must pay thousands of (U.S.) dollars in attorney's fees.[30]
Also, the above restriction even when same-sex couples have access to civil unions that are either analogous to or not on a par with marriage;
Reserving civil unions strictly for opposite-sex couples;
Barring gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals from serving in the armed forces or from working in the education field; this can include policies such as the U.S. military’s “Don't ask, don't tell” policy or Lech Kaczyński and other conservative Polish politicians’ stance to exclude gay men and lesbians from entering the teaching profession. See also: LGBT rights in Poland
Organized opposition to gay rights; labeling such rights and privileges as "special rights" or the "Gay Agenda";
Referring to a suspected criminal's homosexuality or bisexuality when in analogous situations there is no mention of a suspect's heterosexuality.
Implicit or hidden discrimination
This form of heterosexism operates through invisibility, underrepresentation, and erasure. It includes:
Lack or underrepresentation of homoesexual or bisexual people in advertising to the general public;
Censorship of homosexual or bisexual characters, themes, and issues in works of art, literature, entertainment; see also "Sugar Time" episode of Postcards from Buster
Exclusion of historical and political figures’ and celebrities’ homosexuality or bisexuality; their portrayal as heterosexuals;
Complete avoidance of mentioning these people and their positive contributions particularly in news media;
In the context of sex education or professional advice, referring only to opposite-sex partners when discussing female or male sexual attraction and activity;
Silence on issues affecting homosexual and bisexual peoople at school or work or absence of their discussion in a positive light; *Implementation and use of content-control software (censorware) to filter out information and websites that focus on homosexuality or bisexuality;
Postal censorship and border control or customs seizure of publications deemed obscene solely on the basis of them containing material related to homosexuality even when they contain no erotic or pornographic material; see also Little Sister's Book and Art Emporium
Work environments that tacitly require gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals not to reveal their sexual orientation via discussion of their relationship status while heterosexuals can discuss their relationships and marital status freely;
At public libraries or bookstores: rejection, removal or destruction of books (e.g. Jenny lives with Eric and Martin), films, and posters with homosexual themes;
Refusal to include families headed by parenting|same-sex parents at school events or to represent such family diversity in school curricula; see also anti-bias curriculum;
Coercive or forced sex reassignment surgery on gay men, lesbian women, and bisexuals – an issue addressed in Tanaz Eshaghian's 2008 documentary, Be Like Others. See also: LGBT rights in Iran
Forced disappearance, damnatio memoriae, ostracism, shunning, and other forms of social rejection geared towards making homosexual or bisexual people personae non gratae.
Heterosexism is a system of attitudes, bias, and discrimination in favor of opposite-sex sexuality and relationships.[1] It can include the presumption that everyone is heterosexual or that opposite-sex attractions and relationships are the only norm[2] and therefore superior. Although heterosexism is defined in the online editions of the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language and the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary as anti-gay discrimination and/or prejudice "by heterosexual people"[3] and "by heterosexuals",[4] people of any sexual orientation can hold such attitudes and bias. Nonetheless, heterosexism as discrimination ranks gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and asexual people as second-class citizens with regard to various legal and civil rights, economic opportunities, and social equality in the majority of the world’s jurisdictions and societies. 16

17. Workplace Issues (continued)
Current employees are coming out of the closet.
New employees won’t go back in the closet.
Some discriminatory attitudes are hardening. 17

18. A Better Workplace
Where diversity is recognized and respected, overall employee morale goes up
Commitments to LGBT equality tend to reinforce other commitments to equality
From ANCHORING EQUALITY—How US Corporations Can Build Equal and Inclusive Global Workforces 18

19. A Better Workplace
Employees who feel forced to hide their identities, relationships, or life experiences are less effective and lack the cohesion with colleagues they need to best do their jobs
LGBT employees who are out at work are 20% to 30% more productive than their closeted counterparts
From ANCHORING EQUALITY—How US Corporations Can Build Equal and Inclusive Global Workforces 19

20. Benefits of an Inclusive Workplace
A Comprehensive Workplace Diversity Program results in:
Fewer discrimination lawsuits
A more productive workplace
Helping us to better serve all our customers
From ANCHORING EQUALITY—How US Corporations Can Build Equal and Inclusive Global Workforces 20

21. Number of Reported Hate Crimes Based on Sexual Orientation
SOURCE: Federal Bureau of Investigation
We saw an upward trend in hate crimes based on sexual orientation in the last few years, though it was back down slightly in 2009, which is a hopeful sign.

22. Why Education Is Important
From the website gayamericanheroes.com
All the people pictured here were murdered because of their sexual orientation or their perceived sexual orientation.

23. As a Workforce, We Adapt
Good employees work best when they know all the rules
USDA has a non-discrimination policy that includes lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender individuals
Zero-tolerance for discrimination of any kind

24. What Is the Appropriate Response to Inappropriate Behavior?
Be vocal and direct about ending the behavior
Make it clear that USDA is an inclusive and tolerant work environment

25. What Is the Appropriate Response to Inappropriate Behavior?
Let the scope of your response be dictated by the particulars of the behavior—if two employees have a conflict motivated by discrimination, then settle it between them without involving the whole office. If an employee sends out an offensive to the entire office, then your response should be distributed to the entire office.

26. What About Religious Objections?
Not here to change your belief or challenge your faith
This is to make sure you are informed about USDA Human Resources policy

27. What About Religious Objections?
Part of your duty as an employee is to be aware of and comply with USDA’s policies and protocols
We all have different and sometimes competing values, but we have learned to check our baggage at the door when we arrive at work each morning
Examples?

28. Employees in Transition
Has happened many times at USDA
Likely to be an increase in the number of employees who choose to undergo transition in the workplace
Transition process usually includes the individual living for a year as the new gender before undergoing surgery
Leads to a number of questions

29. Questions That Arise When a Coworker Undergoes Transition
What bathroom do they use?
How are we supposed to address them?
How do we respond to co-workers who give them a hard time?
New Guidelines issued from OPM, and USDA is now drafting them into a policy letter specific to our Department.

30. What Can I Do To Promote Diversity In the Workplace?
Be honest: Recognize your own biases, prejudices and values.
Be a partner: Work on projects with members of groups different from your own.
Be a role model: Be vocal in opposing prejudice and help educate others 30

31. For more information, contact Perry Stevens Diversity Program Specialist Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Special Emphasis Program Manager (SEPM) US Department of Agriculture
Put in your own contact information here.