A new national report paints a mixed picture for LGBTQ+ workers: more employees feel seen and supported on the job, but nearly half still report experiencing discrimination.
The 2025 Shine the Light Report, sponsored by the nonprofit Be The Transformational Change Fund, surveyed 1,386 LGBTQ+ people across the United States. The study tracks workplace conditions, career support, and access to inclusive policies, with a larger sample than prior years, up 52% from 2024, according to the report.
The findings point to steady progress in visibility and workplace culture. Sixty-two percent of respondents said they are out to most or all coworkers. Nearly three in four, 74%, said their workplace supports LGBTQ+ employees, up from 68% in 2024 and 56% in 2023.
Comfort at work is also rising. Sixty-nine percent said they feel comfortable expressing their gender identity on the job. Sixty-three percent said they feel comfortable raising LGBTQ+ concerns with leadership, up from 50 percent last year.
However, the data shows barriers still very much exist. Forty-nine percent of respondents reported experiencing workplace discrimination. Among transgender respondents, only 53% said they can use restrooms that align with their gender identity.
“More than half of respondents say their workplace would benefit from LGBTQ+-focused anti-discrimination training,” said Evan Linett, MPP, the report’s lead researcher.
The report also highlights differences across age groups. Gen Z respondents reported the highest levels of discrimination, while millennials reported the lowest. Gen X respondents reported the highest comfort expressing gender identity at work, while younger workers reported less comfort.
For the third year running, LGBTQ+ workers said salary negotiation training was the job resource they wanted most, a sign that career advancement, not just workplace safety, is on their minds.
Linett said the findings show that policy changes alone are not enough.
“What we’re finding is that progress is real–more LGBTQ+ employees are feeling supported at work, but the data makes it clear that policy alone isn’t enough,” Linett said. “Employers need to make sure those supports are accessible and backed by leadership so people can actually experience inclusion in their day-to-day work.”
The report draws on survey data and input from 15 contributors, including advisory group members and focus group participants.
The organization will be gathering information for its 2026 report, and welcome the community to sign up to take part in the next survey.
The full report is available at BetheTransformationalChange.org