Employment Discrimination and Unemployment Information for 2SLGBTQIA+ People
Resources included here are for educational purposes only and do not indicate affiliation or partnership with the Washington State LGBTQ Commission.
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Are you experiencing problems with employment discrimination or facing unemployment?
The Washington State LGBTQ Commission wants to make sure you can find the resources that you need.
The Washington Law Against Discrimination protects LGBTQ+ people from employment discrimination. If you feel like you have been discriminated against on the basis of your sexual orientation or gender identity, we encourage you to file a complaint through the Washington State Human Rights Commission. For those experiencing unemployment, the Employment Security Department details the process of qualifying unemployment and filing for benefits.
There are several national networks listed below that highlight companies and organizations that actively advocate and protect their LGBTQ+ employees, as well as studies and reports on LGBTQ+ employment issues.
LGBTQ organization resources around employment for 2SLGBTQIA+ people.
- Out and Equal is a national organization that strives to create inclusive and welcoming workplace environments by providing leadership development, on demand learning, and more. Their 2025 annual Workplace Summit will be in Seattle, WA from October 13th - 16th.
- Pride at Work has a Seattle and Tacoma chapter that advocates for LGBTQ+ employees.
- GSBA is Washington's LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce and the largest in North America. They help support LGBTQ affirming employers and host a jobs board.
- Organization for transgender and gender non-conforming people in Seattle, Washington, Ingersoll helps the transgender and gender con-conforming community find accepting employment through their jobs board.
- WorkSource is a partnership of state and local governments and non-profits to help people find employment and receive training services.
- Organization creating a culture where transgender and gender diverse people can succeed in the workplace.
State agency resources for unemployment and employment discrimination issues.
File an employment discrimination complaint
- The Washington State Human Rights Commission works to prevent and eliminate discrimination, including discrimination against LGBTQ+ communities. This resource can be used to review, determine, and, ultimately, file a complaint against anti-LGBTQ+ or other discrimination.
Apply for unemployment benefits - Employment Security Department
- The Employment Security Department lists the eligibility requirements and the steps to apply for unemployment benefits.
- If you are looking for a job with a 2SLGBTQIA+ related organization in Washington state or looking into state employment, check out our jobs board! This board is updated regularly by Commission staff.
- Visit careers.wa.gov to see all available employment positions with Washington state. We know that a diverse workforce makes us stronger as a state.
Rainbow Alliance and Inclusion Network (RAIN)
- Learn about the LGBTQ+ employee resource group for state employees. RAIN's membership is open to any Washington state employee or employees of Washington state institutions of higher education.
Articles, FAQs and more around 2SLGBTQIA+ employment
- Seattle Pride’s post details the steps in understanding workplace discrimination for LGBTQ+ individuals, processing, and filing for an investigation.
Bisexuality in the Workplace: Creating Inclusive Environments
- Pride Corner highlights the experiences of bisexual employees in the workplace and strategies to create an inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
Issue at a Glance: LGBTQ Employment Discrimination
- Article from the Victory Institute on LGBTQ employment discrimination.
- Resources from Lambda Legal around LGBTQ employment.
Know Your Rights: Employment - A4TE
- Advocates for Trans Equality helps inform transgender and gender non-conforming people on their rights around employment discrimination.
SAGE Employment Workforce Resources
- SAGE National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging shares recourses around LGBTQ+ employment for older individuals.
Studies and reports around 2SLGBTQIA+ employment and employment discrimination.
LGBTQ People’s Experiences of Workplace Discrimination and Harassment - The Williams Institute
- Report from August 2024 on LGBTQ discrimination and harassment in employment.
- Research from the Trevor Project on how LGBTQ youth are impacted by employment discrimination.
Equality Rising: LGBTQ+ Workers and the Road Ahead
- Report from HRC that shares workplace experiences for LGBTQ+ employees.
Fact Sheet: LGBT Workers in the Labor Market
- Fact sheet from the Center for American Progress around LGBTQ employment, including impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on employment for the LGBTQ community.
The Wage Gap Among LGBTQ+ Workers in the United States
- HRC report on how the wage gap affects LGBTQ+ employment.
Digital guides and tools around 2SLGBTQIA+ employment. This includes 2SLGBTQIA+ job boards.
- GSBA, Washington's LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, job board allows employers to add employment opportunities, as well as individuals to search and apply for jobs through this search engine.
Ingersoll Gender Center Job Board
- This job board focuses on employment opportunities for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in Seattle and King County.
- WorkSource provides a list of job boards to check out, both locally and nationally.
- The Human Rights Campaign's Employer Search is a search engine that highlights companies, municipalities, and healthcare facilities attitude towards LGBTQ+ employees.
How Can I find an Employer's Non-Discrimination Policy?
- HRC shares steps to find an employer’s non-discrimination policy through job announcements, employer websites, and other search methods.
HRC Corporate Equality Index 2025
- Tool from HRC that evaluates workplaces on LGBTQ equality and acceptance.
King County Trans Resource & Referral Guide - Employment Resources
- Employment resources for transgender individuals in King County.
Under RCW 43.114.050, the duties of the LGBTQ Commission include providing a clearinghouse for information regarding both state and federal legislation as it relates to our purpose and providing resource and referral information to agencies and the public. While the LGBTQ Commission does not provide direct services, we work to connect constituents with affirming supports across the state through our collaboration with state agencies and community organizations. If you can't find what you are looking for here, reach out to contact@lgbtq.wa.gov or use our contact form and a Commission staff member will get back to you.