 |
| PREVIOUS PAGE |
| Gay-Friendliness Soars at Top U.S. Business Schools 04/03/2003 (05:45 PM) Media contact: Jason P. Lorber 415-421-4529 [email protected] Gay-Friendliness Soars at Top U.S. Business Schools Employers Specifically Target Gay Recruits at 71% of Top B-Schools SAN FRANCISCO - April 3, 2003 - A little homework, some policy changes, and a lot of coming out have dramatically increased the gay-friendliness of the nation's top business schools, according to a nationwide study conducted by Aplomb Consulting. In fact, 71% of the top B-schools host corporate employers who specifically recruit lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) students. "This isn't just about embracing diversity," said Jason P. Lorber, president of Aplomb Consulting, and a gay Stanford MBA alumnus. "It's also about staying competitive." The Aplomb Consulting study (available at www.aplomb.com ) compares the LGBT-friendliness of the nation's top B-schools in 2002 with a similar study conducted by Lorber seven years ago. The 1995 study placed the gay-friendly spotlight and pressure on B-schools, by capturing worldwide media attention - including Business Week, The New York Times, Public Radio International's Marketplace - and igniting interest from B-school students, professors, administrators, and applicants across the United States and in China, Australia, France, Canada, and several other countries. Some of the other results: Percentage of top B-schools that have 2002 1995 Non-discrimination policies based on sexual orientation 100% 95% LGBT student groups 86% 50% Domestic partner health benefits for faculty 86% 50% Domestic partner health benefits for students 86% 32% Out professors 57% 23% LGBT-Friendly Grade of A- or better 52% 14% Profiles of LGBT students in admission materials 29% 9% LGBT alumni organizations 24% 14% While meeting the criteria for LGBT-friendliness became more challenging, the number of top B-schools earning "A" grades climbed to 11 in 2002 vs. 3 in 1995. Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton tied for the top LGBT-friendly ranking, while the least LGBT-friendly B-school award went to "F" grade Kenan-Flagler at the University of North Carolina. Despite the widespread improvements, discrimination, homophobia, and the closet still persist at the nation's top B-schools, according to the Aplomb Consulting report. While their numbers are growing, LGBT students and faculty seldom comprise more than two percent of their school's population, signaling that many are still afraid or uncomfortable coming out of the corporate-to-be closet. Likewise, transgender visibility and issues are minimally addressed - if at all - at the top B-schools. "But the overall trend drives toward inclusiveness," the report concludes. "If for no other reason than to stay competitive, more employers and B-schools will meet this niche market demand by providing easy-to-implement programs and events. And with capitalist competition to fuel the flame, expect the trend toward increasing LGBT-friendliness to gain momentum." The release of the report coincides with the fifth annual national conference of LGBT students and alumni held in Manhattan April 4-6, 2003. Results were based on more than 100 interviews with B-school administrators, faculty, students, and alumni from April 2002 to July 2002. Top B-schools, for the purposes of this study, include schools ranked in the top twenty by Business Week and/or U.S. News & World Report in their 2001 and 2003 studies, respectively. There were twenty-one such schools in all. LGBT-friendly refers to an atmosphere in which schools are welcoming to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender people. With offices in Burlington, Vermont and San Francisco, Aplomb Consulting strengthens AIDS and LGBT-related non-profits and corporations by providing research, public relations, marketing, strategic planning, and capacity building services. # # # Jason P. Lorber President Aplomb Consulting http://www.aplomb.com Direct Line: 415-421-4529 Aplomb Consulting strengthens non-profit, corporate, GLBT, and HIV/AIDS organizations by providing - research - public relations - marketing - strategic planning - capacity building 1 |