Half of Business Leaders Believe Discrimination Against LGBTQIA+ Employees Is Becoming More Common

In June, ResumeTemplates surveyed 1,000 U.S. business leaders to assess how today’s political climate is affecting LGBTQIA+ employees in the workplace.

Highlights:

• 1 in 7 business leaders say respect for LGBTQIA+ workers has declined under Trump
• Half of leaders expect discrimination against this group to worsen this year
• 1 in 4 companies have scaled back DEI, resulting in less emphasis on creating LGBTQIA+ inclusive hiring practices and environments
• Fewer companies are participating in Pride this month

1 in 7 Business Leaders Say Respect for LGBTQIA+ Employees Has Declined Under Trump

Since the 2024 election, 15% of business leaders say respect for LGBTQIA+ employees in their workplace has declined. By contrast, 21% report an increase in respect, while the majority (64%) say it has remained the same.

As respect wanes, signs of a more hostile work environment are emerging. Nearly 1 in 4 business leaders (23%) say they’ve noticed an uptick in anti-LGBTQIA+ comments or sentiments at work this year, and 22% say employees are now less likely to face consequences for expressing anti-LGBTQIA+ views or engaging in discriminatory behavior.

Half of Leaders Expect Discrimination Against LGBTQIA+ Employees To Increase

Half of business leaders (50%) believe hiring discrimination against LGBTQIA+ candidates will become more common in the next year, with 17% expecting it to become much more common and 33% somewhat more common.

Similarly, just over half of leaders (51%) believe discrimination against LGBTQIA+ employees will become more common in the next year, with 17% saying it will be much more common and 35% somewhat more common.

1 in 4 Companies Have Scaled Back DEI

Since President Trump was elected in November 2024, 25% of leaders say their company has scaled back DEI efforts, while 16% say efforts have scaled up, and 59% report no change.

Among those reporting a DEI scale-back, 59% say there’s now less focus on hiring LGBTQIA+ workers, and a similar 59% say there’s less focus on creating an LGBTQIA+-inclusive environment.

“One of the most significant impacts of the Trump administration on LGBTQIA+ workers has been the rollback of DEI initiatives,” says ResumeTemplates’ Chief Career Strategist Julia Toothacre. “These initiatives not only shaped hiring decisions but also encouraged greater self-awareness around bias in the workplace. Without them, workplaces become less equipped to support inclusivity. While the LGBTQIA+ community has made major strides in education and advocacy, bias and hostility still exist. Without organizational support, those challenges only increase.”

Fewer Companies Will Celebrate Pride This Month

About 40% of business leaders say their company celebrated Pride Month in 2024. Only 35% say their company will celebrate Pride this June.

“Companies choose whether to celebrate identity-based months like Pride for a variety of reasons. If a company publicly supports the LGBTQIA+ community, celebrating Pride aligns with its stated values. Others may not participate, not necessarily out of opposition, but because it’s not a business priority or they want to avoid appearing to favor one group over another. In today’s polarized climate, some companies are likely opting out altogether to avoid controversy. Pride celebrations also often fall under DEI budgets, which have been cut in many organizations over the last year,” explains Toothacre.

This survey was conducted between May 28 and May 30, 2025. A total of 1,000 U.S. business leaders participated. To ensure appropriate responses, participants were required to meet specific demographic criteria and successfully complete screening questions prior to taking the full survey.