Abstract
With almost half (46%) of LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. workforce reporting discrimination, and only 52% of LGBTQ+ U.S. advertising agency professionals rating agency cultures as inclusive, it is important to understand the workplace experiences of LGBTQ+ advertising professionals. Using in-depth interviews with 16 LGBTQ+ advertising professionals, we examine the lived experiences of agency employees through the theoretical lenses of identity, heteronormativity, and gender performativity. The findings reveal (1) broad pressure to assimilate to the heteronormative agency culture, and (2) differences in experience based on gender, sexual orientation, and department. These findings contribute to our knowledge of how the hierarchical tendencies associated with gender and sexual binaries impact the work experiences and career trajectories of professionals with various identities. Agencies must recognize that no one-size-fits-all approach exists to alleviate discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.