Bain's LGBTQ-related policies have created a culture of acceptance that's winning outside recognition. For nearly two decades at Bain (and at Bridgespan since its inception), we have had a written nondiscrimination policy that provides LGBTQ employees with the opportunity to work as openly and "out" as they feel comfortable.

In 2007, the Human Rights Campaign awarded a perfect score in its Corporate Equality Index to Bain and Bridgespan. We were among the first consulting firms ever to receive this distinction, and have obtained a perfect score ever since. The firm is also rated first in Vault's LGBTQ diversity ranking.

In the US, Bain is the first global consulting firm to offer reimbursement to same-sex couples for federal taxes levied on domestic partner health benefits. Bain is also a sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act in the US, which seeks to stop the deportation of binational same-sex couples. We've also done valuable work directly with the LGBTQ community, including projects for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Immigration Equality and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. In short, we've taken great strides toward making Bain and Bridgespan the very best places to work—for everyone.

BGLAD levels of affiliation

BGLAD offers four levels of membership in order to accommodate all employees, at whatever their comfort level, to be out in the workplace:

• Level 1 – Completely open and out
• Level 2 – Out only to Level 1–3 members
• Level 3 – Out only to BGLAD administrator
• Level 4 – Straight allies

Active throughout the year

BGLAD facilitates regular informal communication and mentoring among its members in Bain and The Bridgespan Group. The organization:

• Hosts a biannual global summit, an offsite planning meeting that provides opportunities to network with BGLAD members worldwide
• Hosts events within local offices, including group outings, office-wide receptions and speaker luncheons
• Publishes two quarterly newsletters, one for Levels 1–3 and one for Level 4
• Coordinates a global Level 4 engagement program that includes trainings, open discussions and volunteer opportunities
• Provides an opportunity to match a BGLAD member with a BGLAD mentor
• Recruits LGBTQ talent, hosting receptions at top schools
• Coordinates Bain's recurring sponsorship of the "Out for Undergraduate Business Conference," “EurOut” and "Reaching Out MBA," the annual conferences of LGBTQ undergraduate and business school students, respectively
• Partners with global, regional and local stakeholders on a whole host of on-going initiatives like gender neutral bathrooms, respectful pronoun usage and volunteerism, among others