MONTGOMERY—HRC Alabama is pleased to announce its Equality is Our Business Program, designed to celebrate diversity and inclusion in the workplace,  advance protections in employment, housing and public accommodations, and create more inclusive business practices. The new HRC Alabama pledge aims to strengthen support for the values of diversity and inclusion, including Alabama’s LGBT community, by engaging businesses of all sizes to sign the pledge, and place stickers at their front door or cash register.

“Equality makes good business sense and this pledge is another reminder to our legislators that Alabama business owners support and embrace the LGBT community,” said HRC Alabama director R. Ashley Jackson. “Regardless of our backgrounds, we can all agree that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.”

There are clear financial benefits of businesses who enthusiastically commit to LGBT diversity in the workplace. That’s why hundreds of Fortune 500 companies have equality protections in place for their LGBT workers. The business community understands in order to attract and retain top talent, managers must have workplace policies that treat everyone fairly.

According to a 2014 HRC survey, LGBT Alabamians are productive, contributing members of their respective communities. 61 percent of respondents have lived in the State for more than 20 years; 50 percent have volunteered in their communities; and 8 percent of LGBT Alabamians are currently serving, or have served, in the Armed Forces. However, LGBT people in Alabama face challenging hurdles. In Alabama, 38 percent have experienced harassment at work; half have experienced harassment on the street; and a quarter experience employment discrimination.

To view the pledge, click here.