LGBTQIA/Diversity Job Search
Coming out in an employment setting can be risky – do what you feel is in your best interest while also preserving your right to privacy. If you wish to brainstorm and practice handling this concern please call the Cascade Career Center at 971-722-5600 to make an appointment.
Links and Resources
Portland Area Resources
Q Center (Near Cascade)
SMYRK (New Avenues for Youth)
Sage USA ( for elders)
- Out for Undergrad (conference for Networking)
- Out for Undergrad job board
- Corporate Equality Index 2025 (Human Rights Campaign)
- ORPIB
- Bridges to Work – www.bridgestowork.org
- Human Rights Campaign – LGBTQ+ Professional & Student Associations
- Transgender Law Center
- Out and Equal Work Place Advocates – www.outandequal.org
- Pride at Work – www.prideatwork.org
- Out & Equal – Workplace equity www.outandequal.org/2017-workplace-equality-fact-sheet
- Queer Business Alliance (FB)
- Gay Yellow Pages
- National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC)
- Information from Emmanuel College for Trans Job Seekers
- List of LGBTQI+ Friendly Employers
- Not sure how to come out at work – click on this link from About.com – career planning for more information
- Article – Job Search while LGBTQ – Finding the LGBT Inclusive place to work – The Muse
Professional Dress vs. Interview Dress
Bottom line – wear something professional that you are comfortable wearing.
The resource below is shared by the University of Wisconsin.
Professional Dress
- Khaki pants
- Skirts (knee-length)
- Dresses (knee-length)
- Sweaters (no cleavage showing)
- Nice shirts (no cleavage or shoulders showing)
- Scarves
- Nice boots/shoes
Interview Dress
- Suit with pants or skirt (knee length)
- Tie
- Blazer
- Pencil skirt (knee-length)
- Dress (knee length, no cleavage or shoulders showing)
- Plain blouse or shirt, such as blue, white (no cleavage showing)
- Black pants
- 1-2” closed toe heel
- Dress shoes
Articles on Attire
- Why I’m Genderqueer, Professional and Unafraid
www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-tobia/genderqueer-professional-_b_5476239.html - How to Dress for an Interview as a Butch Dyke
www.theprofessorisin.com/2011/11/07/how-to-dress-for-an-interview-as-a-butch-dyke
Legal Resources for Gender Non-binary and Transgender Individuals
- Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce www.wislgbtchamber.com
- Six Steps for Finding LGBT-Friendly Employers
www.fastcompany.com/3061746/six-steps-for-finding-lgbt-friendly-employers - Creating an LGBT Friendly Workplace www.business.tutsplus.com/tutorials/make-your-workplace-lgbt-friendly–cms-32756
- Coming out at Work www.hrc.org/resources/entry/coming-out-at-work
Professional Organizations
- Out & Equal – Workplace Advocates www.outandequal.org
- Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce www.wislgbtchamber.com
- Out Professionals www.outprofessionals.org
- National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals www.noglstp.org
- NLGJA – The Association of LGBTQ Journalists www.nlgja.org
Scholarships, Internships and Diversity Recruitment
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- Advocate – online and offline about LGBT community www.advocate.com/business
- College Scholarships – www.collegescholarships.org/scholarships/lgbt-students.htm
- National Scholarships for LGBT Students www.hrc.org/scholarship-database/c/national
- Pride Foundation – www.pridefoundation.org/find-funding/scholarships
- Global Experiences – International Internship Programs www.globalexperiences.com/students/internships-abroad
- Victory – Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute – Building Successful LGBT Leaders – all-expenses covered, paid summer and/or fall/spring internships for LGBT students in
Washington, D.C. www.victoryinstitute.org/programs/victory-congressional-internship