Over the Rainbow: - Wrestling With Angels
Over the Rainbow: - Wrestling With Angels
Over the Rainbow: - Wrestling With Angels
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The Gay and lesbian community in <strong>the</strong> U.S. is estimated by national surveys to exceed 18<br />
million people with a large majority having disposable incomes above <strong>the</strong> national average.<br />
Households with dual incomes without children have significant buying power. MYgayweb.com<br />
(2010) reported “The Gay and lesbian community is three times more likely to be online than<br />
many average Americans” and “<strong>Over</strong> 29% of gay internet surfers have yearly household<br />
incomes of at least $90,000,” <strong>With</strong> 62% making over $40,000 a year. Many are highly<br />
educated, with 73% of gay internet surfers having a college degree, 19% with a Masters Degree<br />
or higher.<br />
Corporations Address Gay Concerns<br />
Corporations and businesses recognized that singles without family ties were able to<br />
dedicate time and energy to <strong>the</strong>ir job and were free to travel around <strong>the</strong> country. The<br />
Advocate, which had covered <strong>the</strong> gay market since 1967, featured a ‘how to’ guide for <strong>the</strong> gay<br />
traveler in <strong>the</strong> 1990’s. Noting that an estimated $17 billion annually is spent by gay men and<br />
lesbians in business related travel, <strong>the</strong>y published a list of travel companies that were<br />
‘exceptional’ or ‘gay friendly’. Included were American , Northwest, Continental and Lufthansa<br />
Airlines; Avis, National and Alamo Car Rentals; and Hyatt Hotels (GA, 1996:15,156).<br />
While some gay men and lesbians were fortunate to be in business for <strong>the</strong>mselves or to<br />
work in gay organizations, those working in <strong>the</strong> business world often found it difficult, having to<br />
avoid conversations about <strong>the</strong>ir private lives when o<strong>the</strong>rs talked about <strong>the</strong>ir families. Having<br />
to hide in <strong>the</strong> closet during working hours sapped energy and creativity. Kirk Snyder, author of<br />
Lavender Road to Success: The Career Guide for <strong>the</strong> Gay Community, contends that “an open<br />
work environment leads to happier employees and <strong>the</strong>refore higher productivity”. He found<br />
that workers who hide <strong>the</strong>ir sexuality at work make less money and are less productive than<br />
openly gay people” (Johansson, 2004).<br />
Employee associations and unions developed in corporate America to lobby for gay<br />
employee’s rights and domestic partner benefits. In <strong>the</strong> 1980’s corporations began to include<br />
sexual orientation in <strong>the</strong>ir nondiscrimination policies (Johansson, 2004). By 1995, more than sixty<br />
American companies had lesbian, gay and bisexual employee groups. Half of <strong>the</strong> Fortune 1000<br />
companies and more than 20 federal agencies had nondiscrimination policies that included<br />
sexual orientation. <strong>Over</strong> 45% of lesbian and gay men had been promoted at work (GA,1996:101-<br />
102:153). By 2004 75% of Fortune 500 companies included sexual orientation in <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
nondiscrimination policies and 42% offered domestic partner benefits (Johansson, 2004).<br />
<strong>Over</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Rainbow</strong>: The Gay Battle for Social Reorganization of America. 2010<br />
Dr. M. L. Coppock<br />
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