Thompson Coburn calls for LGBT equality in Missouri workplaces
February 6, 2014
As part of our comprehensive commitment to diversity, Thompson Coburn has publicly voiced support for the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA), a law that would extend basic workplace protections to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
In a letter written to the Missouri Legislature, Thompson Coburn Chairman Tom Minogue urged lawmakers to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Missouri Human Rights Statute, which already protects against workplace discrimination based on race, sex, and national origin.
“Having policies inclusive of the LGBT community is not only the right thing to do; it’s in the best interest of our firm,” Minogue wrote. “Diversity and inclusion matter to our clients, and we continue to build and grow these relationships nationally.”
“Not only is this good for business, but it is good for Missouri,” Minogue wrote.
According to Missouri Workplace Equality, a joint effort of PROMO and Progress Missouri, Thompson Coburn is the third major company and the first law firm to throw its support behind MONA. More than 130 local businesses have also signed on to support these basic workplace protections.
Thompson Coburn has long made it a priority to adopt LGBT-inclusive policies, offer same-sex partner benefits, and support the firm’s LGBT Affinity Group in leadership and professional development efforts. The Human Rights Campaign has honored Thompson Coburn for those efforts by awarding the firm a perfect score in its Corporate Equality Index and Best Places to Work Survey for five consecutive years.