I work a nine-to-five job at pretty large corporation downtown in which most of my day is spent writing in some shape or form, coming up with catchy taglines and trading witty comments with my co-workers. At work, it's no secret that I am a lesbian. In fact, I've never been one to hide or avoid it.

Now don't get the wrong idea. I don't wear rainbow colored socks to work every day, nor do I have a huge rainbow flag waving over my cubicle, flapping in the wind of the air conditioner. What tipped my coworkers off? I don't know exactly. It might've been that little ditty I wrote for a My View Column in The Buffalo News last November about gay marriage where I basically announced to the entire city that I was, in fact, a lesbian and that I also wanted to get married someday. Shrug. OR it could simply be the fact that I talk openly about who I am and trust that I work with a good group of solid individuals who are all open minded and accepting.

I can't imagine what my work days would be like if I had to hide my sexuality. The thing is that most of us don't even have to because the tides of acceptance seem to be shifting once again in our favor. According to the Human Rights Campaign, a total of 101 businesses received the group's highest rating on its annual corporate equity index - an 80 percent increase. Last year, only 56 companies received a perfect score. According to Planet Out.com, banking, financial services and insurance companies like Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase and Prudential consistently top the list.

Prudential CEO, Arthur Ryan, was quoted on the site as saying, "Diversity continues to be key to the ongoing success of our company, and we remain committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive work environment for all people."

So what does this mean exactly? It means diversity works, people! Big-time companies across the country are starting to realize the importance of treating all of their employees with equality and respect. And it is certainly about time.

Part of the reason for the rise in ratings could be attributed to the fact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) issues have been prominent in the media over the past couple of years and have prompted open discussion in all aspects of life, especially the workplace. LGBT issues that have been highlighted in the media so frequently that lately I find myself caught up in an intellectual discussion over lunch or during an afternoon lull. It's refreshing to know I can speak freely about my opinions and not have to hold my tongue for fear of what my coworkers might think.

I also think that there are more individuals like me who feel that they have nothing to hide. And because they are honest and open at work, they can help their heterosexual coworkers understand the importance of equal rights and benefits. Then their coworkers no longer see homosexuality as being something foreign or unknown. They can put a face to it and that makes it familiar. It makes it human. And as human beings, we all deserve equal right regardless of our sexuality.

I'm not one to want to climb the corporate ladder. (I'm afraid of heights!) And someday I plan on working full time from home. But for now, I can enjoy the atmosphere at my current place of employment without any fear of discrimination. Just the other day, a coworker of mine wore a shirt that just happened to be colored in a rainbow pattern. She proudly strutted over to my desk and asked me if she could be gay for the day. She wanted to be part of the club. I smiled and said, "Sure!"

After all, who am I to discriminate? —- Lyndsey D'Archangelo