Pulling the ‘Gay’ Card in Lieu of Qualifications Not As Lucrative for LGBT Professionals As It Once Was
During the Biden administration, being able to check as many diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) boxes on your resumé as possible was of utmost importance. It was a veiled way of saying, “Straight white men need not apply.” But in the age of Trump, it is not about what you look like, but whether you can do the job. What was once almost a guarantee that you would be hired doesn’t have the punch it once did.
Fewer gay professionals feel being gay helps their career https://t.co/v3xfxeyjO9
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) July 20, 2026
In 2026, fewer gay professionals believe that being openly gay in the workplace is no longer a potential benefit to them. The percentage who feel that being gay is an asset fell from 78 percent in 2023 to 49 percent currently. However, a record 88 percent of gay professionals said they feel comfortable at their place of employment.
READ MORE: If You Want a Utilities Contract in California, Be Prepared to Prove How Gay You Are
The numbers come from a recent Out Leadership study. Todd Sears is the CEO of Out Leadership and said of the study,
“To me, the most striking finding is the divergence, not just the decline. In other words, people are not going back into the closet (yet, but I think more will in this current environment); they are questioning whether personal visibility and authenticity will translate into advancement.”
The study was worldwide, spanning the five global regions of the U.S., Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia/Oceania, and South America. Gen Z employees reported the biggest drop in thinking that being gay will help them climb the corporate ladder. Sears went on to say that making efforts by companies and corporations to make gay employees feel more at ease had higher productivity, higher engagement, lower turnover, and ultimately, a better bottom line. Sears goes on to say that what has changed is that companies are no longer actively seeking out what he calls “difference of perspective.” He concludes that
“When companies stop signaling that difference is valued, leaders draw the rational conclusion that the qualities they bring—resilience, empathy, the ability to navigate across audiences and markets—are no longer recognized as leadership assets.”
Almost half the year is designated as some sort of LGBT-etc day, week, or month.
But the moment someone pushes back to highlight what they value, it’s a problem. https://t.co/uTYRhj6GFl
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) June 4, 2026
In 2026, what many American companies are looking to do is ditch woke and get back to doing business with their customers and clients. That means just looking for the most qualified people, no matter who they are. The 1792 Exchange is a nonprofit whose mission is “helping businesses get back to business’ by influencing American companies to advance principles including free speech, freedom of religion, and free enterprise.” Greg Scott is the executive vice president and says:
“Many companies have seen that taking sides in political battles presents few benefits and carries intolerable reputational risk. It’s not speculation or mere vibing to say that businesses are increasingly getting back to business and leaving the culture wars behind.”
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He added, “The most radical ideologues are now admitting that the (DEI) spell is wearing off.” Scott seems to be right. According to the 1792 Exchange, 65 percent of Fortune 500 companies exited the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index Survey in one year and also lost half of its annual dinner sponsors in a year.
President Trump has liberated America’s companies and corporations from being under the thumb of woke rules and regulations. Now, those same companies can focus on what really matters: serving their customers, shareholders, and employees, and most important of all: just hiring the best people, no matter who they are for the job.
I’m gay. I just want to live a normal life — live with my husband, be a part of my family, work hard, and be left the hell alone.
The alphabet mafia doesn’t speak for me. Their endless parades, corporate grooming, and victim Olympics ruin my reputation and turn people against us.…— Normal Gay Psychiatrist (@NormalGayPsych) July 19, 2026
I’m gay. I just want to live a normal life — live with my husband, be a part of my family, work hard, and be left the hell alone.The alphabet mafia doesn’t speak for me. Their endless parades, corporate grooming, and victim Olympics ruin my reputation and turn people against us. I don’t share their values, and I refuse to be associated with their chaos.Most of us just want quiet dignity, not a rainbow cult. If that makes me the bad guy now… so be it.
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