Under the patchwork of state and local employment law that prohibits employment discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation more than three of every five citizens live in jurisdictions that do not provide such protections, and they are needed.
Employers CAN enact their own policies to apply consistently across their organization, unfortunately many choose not to do so. Without the Government creating a widespread legislation against discrimination in the private sector, many LGBT persons may remain either in unsafe workplace conditions or unemployed.
This organization has more information on the subject. http://www.hrc.org/