PianoManGidley is spot on with his number two suggestion. Incorporating sexual orientation and gender identity as protected qualifiers from discrimination in the Equal Opportunity Employment Act is absolutely crucial.
I personally have had to be in the closet at multiple jobs over the years simply because I knew my employers could (and would) fire me with impunity if I didn't constantly lie about my personal life. Whenever I was really talking about my boyfriend Paul I would change it up and say I was talking about my girlfriend Stacy. I didn't go to holiday parties where significant others were invited. I couldn't play company sports where Stacy would be expected to show up. I couldn't go to company outings or picnics, etc. This was difficult. I was managing a couple hundred people at various times and was expected to come to these functions. Stacy was expected to come too.
Sometimes I hear the argument that personal lives should stay out of the workplace. Well great, if that notion is applied to everyone equally then I have no problem with it. But as it is, gay people have to play "don't ask don't tell" with their personal lives while their straight colleagues bare all and brag about whatever with impunity.
Having to pathologically hide one's sexual orientation in the workplace for fear of losing your income source is just no good at all. Companies should not be able to fire you for being gay, it's as simple as that. That's just basic equal rights, it has nothing to do with special or distinct treatment.
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