About This Course

In the United States alone, an estimated 20 million people are part of the LBGTQ+ community. Due to prosecution and violence, global rates are harder to confirm, however, it’s clear that people of the LGBTQ+ community exist everywhere. But, many never disclose their identity. Why?

Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals are on the rise, comprising 16.7% of all hate crimes. 54% of queer people hide their personal relationships due to fear of discrimination. 31% of LGBTQ+ professionals in the United States have faced blatant discrimination or microaggressions at work. And, among those aged 18 to 34, 25% feel they’ve been intentionally passed over for career advancement opportunities because they are “out” in the workplace. 

In the midst of shifting demographics, it’s paramount that organizations and individuals invest in the education and changes necessary to make the workforce – and society – more inclusive to LGBTQ+ individuals.

Throughout this course, we’ll cover LGBTQ+ fundamentals, tips for allyship, and best practices for inclusive language, so that you can feel confident in respecting, supporting and interacting with your LGBTQ+ colleagues, friends, family members, and associates, creating more inclusive and welcoming environments in the process.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    The ABCs of LGBTQ+

    • Why This Matters

    • Learning Objectives

    • What Does LGBTQ+ Stand For?

    • How Does Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Inclusion Benefit Organizations?

    • Sex, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

    • Common Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities

    • Personal Story: The Erasure of Bisexual Identities

    • What are Pronouns?

    • The History of LGBTQ+ Rights in the United States

    • Looking Forward

    • LGBTQ+ Rights Around the World

    • DEI from a Global Perspective

    • Inclusive Communication & Interaction

    • A Reminder About Intersectionality

    • Active Allyship

    • Calling In v. Calling Out

    • Inclusion in Action

    • Inclusion in Action: How to Respond to Anti-LGBTQ+ Discrimination

    • Inclusion in Action: How to Ask for Someone’s Pronouns

    • Inclusion in Action: How to Act as an Ally When a Coworker Comes Out

    • Inclusion in Action: What to Say When a Coworker Tells You They’re Transgender

    • Inclusion in Action: LGBTQ+ Employees in Customer-Facing Roles

    • Inclusion in Action: Pride Washing

    • Inclusion by Job Function

    • Inclusive Practices for the Frontline Worker

    • Featured Resource: Best Practices Guide to Inclusive Marketing

    • Inclusive Practices for Managers: Affinity Groups

    • Featured Resource: The Anatomy of an Employee-Led DEI Group: ERGs, BRGs, and More

    • Personal Story: ERG Inclusion

    • Personal Story: ERG Allyship

    • Inclusive Practices for Managers and Executives: Mentorship and Sponsorship

    • Inclusive Practices for Executives

    • Personal Story: Inclusive Hiring

    • Additional Resources for Continued Learning

    • Conclusion

    • Key Terms

    • Quiz

    • Resources

    • End of Course Survey

Testimonials

Gives me hope

Rebecca Blum

Thank you so much for sharing the program with me! I spent time yesterday and today going through it and it really is amazing. My oldest child is transgender and we are trying to wrap our brains around what the world is going to be like for him when he's ready to enter the workforce. This program actually gave me some hope.

Enroll to Earn Continuing Education Credits

We’re proud to be an Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC) Preferred Recertification Provider. Certified Diversity Professional (CDP)® and Certified Diversity Executive (CDE)® designees can earn recertification credits by taking our courses.

We are also a Certified Association Executive registered provider, meaning all programs on this site meet the requirements for fulfilling the professional development requirements to earn or maintain the Certified Association Executive credential.

FAQs

  • Who is this course for?

    This course is for those seeking to better understand basic LGBTQ+ terminology, language, and statistics. It is also for people who want to become better allies to the LGBTQ+ community in and outside of work.

  • How long does it take to complete the course?

    On average, this course takes learners 2 hours to complete.