People without records are 60 percent more likely to receive a callback interview than are people with records.
"According to one 2017 study"
Half of LGBTQI+ respondents said that they had experienced discrimination or harassment at work in the past year.
"In a 2022 Center for American Progress survey"
LGBTQI+ people are overrepresented in the criminal legal system.
"Due to a complex system of factors"
Ban-the-box policies help limit unnecessary inquiries into a job applicant’s record.
"Ban-the-box policies mean that applicants can meet with employers before potential discussion of their records"
Thirty-seven states, including New York, have banned the box through a state law, an executive order, or an administrative policy.
"More than half of U.S. states"
In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that LGBTQ people across the country are protected from discrimination in the workplace.
"In 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court"
Twenty-three states have passed laws banning employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
"For LGBTQI+ people with records"
Fifteen states and Washington, D.C., have passed both ban-the-box and LGBTQI+ nondiscrimination laws.
"This means that just 15 states and Washington, D.C."
The most effective way to ensure the enforcement of these policies nationally is for Congress to pass federal comprehensive protections.
"The most effective way to ensure the enforcement of these policies nationally"
Most states allow people to petition to have certain criminal records sealed or expunged.
"Most states allow people to petition to have certain criminal records sealed or expunged"
LGBTQI+ people with records face a number of challenges when applying for jobs, but there are ways states can help.
"LGBTQI+ people with records face a number of challenges when applying for jobs"
Ban-the-box laws and LGBTQI+ nondiscrimination protections are key first steps in dismantling discrimination in the initial job application process.
"Ban-the-box laws and LGBTQI+ nondiscrimination protections are key first steps"
The article discusses the challenges faced by LGBTQI+ individuals with criminal records when seeking employment. It highlights the discrimination and difficulties they encounter due to their identities and legal history. The importance of ban-the-box policies, which limit inquiries into an applicant's criminal record, and LGBTQI+ nondiscrimination protections is emphasized. While some states have implemented these policies, there is a need for more comprehensive federal protections to ensure equitable access to employment for this vulnerable group. Additionally, clean slate laws are suggested as a way to help individuals with criminal records clear their past and improve their chances of securing employment.
