The narrative comments, again including comments from heterosexual respondents, also report instances of employer discrimination against lesbian and gay lawyers on the basis of their sexual orientation in partnership, promotion and retention decisions. For example:

I have watched as managers have dismissed staff attorneys as too “sissy” to litigate a particular case. App. C, Comment 275 (gay/lesbian respondent)

It has been made clear to me that, if I had pretended to be more straight, I would have gotten a [promotion] by now. App. C, Excerpt ii.

[After a number of years] at the firm I was [given to understand that the presence of certain attorneys assured that I would never become a partner]. I also know of derogatory remarks that were made about me, and that those remarks got big laughs from some of the more senior attorneys. App. C, Comment 251 (gay/lesbian respondent)

At my prior law firm an attorney was denied partnership because of his homosexuality. App. C, Comment 43 (heterosexual respondent)

I was with a small, conservative firm for several years that constructively discharged a male associate after he disclosed his homosexuality. App. C, Comment 85 (heterosexual respondent)

[A]n apparently gay, but not out, associate was shifted to unpopular work, his work was inappropriately denigrated, and he was passed over for partnership as “just not fitting in” with the partnership. As he had the option to remain as of counsel, his work couldn’t have been the problem. App. C, Comment 122 (heterosexual respondent)

My sexual orientation has deprived me of access to work and clients, income and advancement, professional contacts and job fulfillment. App. C, Comment 282 (gay/lesbian respondent)

At previous position, General Counsel had to intercede and “go to the mat” to save colleague’s job when it became known he was gay. App. C, Comment 286 (gay/lesbian respondent)

My performance evaluations have generally been favorable, and I have received high ratings for my work. Recently, however, I have received strong signals that I am not likely to be elevated to the partnership. The firm is satisfied with my work, and was unable to define any ascertainable problem.... When I discussed these perplexing comments with colleagues, both gay and non-gay, the immediate reaction by all was that the…problem is my sexual orientation. While there is no way for me to confirm the basis for the comments, I expect that my sexual orientation, perceived or actual, will be a bar to partnership. App. C, Comment 291 (gay/lesbian respondent)