Date: Tue, 19 Sep 95 17:32:40 EDT From: "Susan Spielman" Subject: Book Description Straight Talk About Gays in the Workplace: Creating an Inclusive, Productive Environment for Everyone in Your Organization by Liz Winfeld & Susan Spielman Publisher: AMACOM - The book publishing division of the American Management Association. Ordering Information: Straight Talk About Gays in the Workplace is available nationwide at any bookstore, or by calling AMACOM at 212-903-8420 and referring to Stock #0305. List price is $21.95 and quantity discounts are available for quantities of 5 or more. Summary: In Straight Talk About Gays in the Workplace, Ms. Winfeld and Ms. Spielman present a comprehensive argument for the validity of sexual orientation as a factor in diversity management programs and processes. The book offers an indepth look at the underlying premises of all diversity efforts, and how sexual orientation plays a part. It looks hard at the myths, misconceptions, homophobia and heterosexism that sometimes preclude inclusion of orientation issues in diversity initiatives. Education programs specific to orientation and all of the details needed for implementation of domestic partner benefits, and an argument and strategy for HIV/AIDS workplace education are all presented. Two main themes drive the book. First, sexual orientation is a business issue for all organizations. Inclusion of this issue contributes directly to productivity and profitability. Proof - economic, legal, and social - are offered to substantiate this point. Second, the idea in the workplace is and must be to positively effect behavior towards sexual orientation and not beliefs. A person's beliefs relative to sexual orientation, family, morality, etc. must be respected at all times. However, a person's beliefs may not be used as a justification to withhold basic legal, civil and workplace rights from others. Straight Talk About Gays in the Workplace is the most comprehensive work to date on sexual orientation issues in the workplace. Its goal is to explain the need for inclusive programs and policies, present the business case for such inclusion, and provide the tools necessary to make inclusion efficient, affordable, and meaningful to all members of a given workplace community.