The far-reaching online survey was conducted for Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, a non-profit organization that provides support and advocacy for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community in the workplace. The complete results of this survey will be made available at the opening session of the Out & Equal Workplace Summit in Minneapolis, MN on Thursday, October 2. The Out & Equal Workplace Summit is the nation's leading conference for GLBT employees and human resources professionals addressing these issues in the workplace.

The research also reports that gay and lesbian Americans say they are much more comfortable being open in the workplace about their sexual orientation than they were in 2002. When asked how comfortable they would be to display a photo of a same-sex spouse, partner or significant other, twice as many (48%) responded now that they are very or extremely comfortable compared to last year (24%). Other findings include:

This progress, however, is balanced against the little change in the levels of discrimination reported by GLBT Americans in the workplace. For the second year in a row, four in ten (41%) GLBT adults say they have faced some form of discrimination on the job, including being fired, harassed, pressured to quit or denied a promotion because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression. Also, more heterosexuals (52%) reported hearing jokes about GLBT people in the workplace than they did in 2002 (45%).

"The diversity of America's workforce and workplaces helps create an environment of acceptance and appreciation for not only our differences but what we share in common as American families," said Out & Equal Executive Director Selisse Berry. "We still have a lot of work to do and that's why the Out & Equal Workplace Summit is so important. By providing effective tools and offering useful lessons from the nation's leaders in diversity, others can learn how to transform their workplaces to an environment where all employees are valued for their contributions and talent, not their sexual orientation or gender identity or expression."

Corporate sponsors for the 2003 Out & Equal Workplace Summit include the leaders in GLBT diversity in the U.S. These include IBM, Motorola, American Airlines, Eastman Kodak Co., Best Buy, Procter and Gamble, Honeywell, Intel, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Prudential Financial, Volvo, J.P. Morgan Chase, Aetna, and Raytheon.

Since these questions were initially posed a year ago, the nation has witnessed a sea change in the visibility and news coverage about gays and lesbians. Milestones have included the Supreme Court ruling outlawing sodomy laws, Canada's decision to sanction same-sex marriages as well as the popularity of new cross-over television programming such as 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.' Companies like Jaguar, Volvo and Orbitz also executed advertising strategies tailored to the GLBT market, resulting in news coverage on CNN, MSNBC and major newspapers.

The current survey suggests that this broader visibility, combined with the growing trends in corporate diversity training, is leading to greater sensitivity in the workplace among heterosexuals. "Corporate marketing campaigns to GLBT consumers are on the rise especially among companies that promote fairness and equal benefits among their workforce. Yet, even though protections for gays and lesbians in corporate America are increasing, attitudes must still catch up," said Wesley Combs, President of Witeck-Combs Communications, a strategic marketing and public relations firm specializing in reaching the GLBT market. "I predict that the most successful companies will be those that understand best how to put their internal philosophy in synch with their marketplace strategies. They are the ones that will establish lasting reputations and achieve the highest employee and customer loyalties."

About the Out & Equal Workplace Summit

The full report will be presented at the opening session of the 2003 Out & Equal Workplace Summit. The conference, set for October 2-4 at the Marriott City Center in Minneapolis, MN, will bring together more than 600 human resources professionals; GLBT workplace advocates, straight allies and other committed individuals from around the country to receive the latest updates on GLBT issues in the workplace. Over 50 workshops are planned across a wide range of GLBT workplace issues and will include keynote addresses by former Texas Governor Ann Richards, retired NFL player Esera Tuaolo, and furniture executive Mitchell Gold. For a complete listing of speakers and panels, visit www.outandequal.org.

About Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates (www.outandequal.org) champions safe and equitable workplaces for GLBT people. They advocate building and strengthening successful organizations that value all employees, customers and communities. In addition to the annual Workplace Summit, Out & Equal’s programs include: Building Bridges Diversity Training - designed to increase employee productivity, improve morale, and strengthen the workplace community by opening up communication to increase awareness and develop an action plan of GLBT issues; Networking Opportunities – including organized events in regions across the country, providing an opportunity for people to meet, network and learn about issues facing the GLBT community in the workplace.

About Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc.

Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. (www.witeckcombs.com) is the nation’s premier strategic marketing communications firm, specializing in reaching the gay and lesbian consumer market with corporate clients including American Airlines, IBM, Sears, Ford Motor Company and its brands Jaguar, Volvo and Land Rover. With a decade’s experience in this unique market, Witeck-Combs Communications has earned respected relationships throughout the community and serves as a bridge between corporate America and gay and lesbian consumers. In April 2003, American Demographics magazine identified Bob Witeck and Wes Combs as two of 25 experts over the last 25 years who have made significant contributions to the fields of demographics, market research, media and trendspotting for their pathbreaking work on the gay and lesbian market.

About Harris Interactive®

Harris Interactive ( www.harrisinteractive.com) is a worldwide market research and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll®, and for pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate market research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, U.S.A., Harris Interactive combines proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in predictive, custom and strategic research. The Company conducts international research through wholly owned subsidiaries—London-based HI Europe (www.hieurope.com ) and Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan—as well as through the Harris Interactive Global Network of local market- and opinion-research firms, and various U.S. offices. EOE M/F/D/V

To become a member of the Harris Poll OnlineSM and be invited to participate in future online surveys, visit www.harrispollonline.com .