About the Briefing

In early 2023, The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) partnered with DOL’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) to fund contractor The Manhattan Strategy Group (MSG), LLC to help DOL understand available information regarding the fundamental labor rights, working conditions, and access to employment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) individuals in Latin America. MSG produced a literature scan and provided an accompanying briefing for DOL. The purpose of the literature scan was to identify possible experts to provide additional insights to ILAB after the briefing, and to also: (a) identify any data that exist about the prevalence and nature of labor and education-related rights violations faced by the LGBTQI+ population in Latin America; (b) recent (2012–2022) program evaluations of LGBTQI+-focused programs related to employment or education outcomes in Latin America; and (c) evidence-based strategies to address discrimination and support labor-related outcomes among LGBTQI+ populations, including youth. The briefing event occurred on June 28th, 2023.

The scan and briefing inform DOL’s Employment and Training, Equity, International Labor Issues, and Worker Protection, Labor Standards, and Workplace-Related Benefits programs and policies and addresses Departmental strategic goals and priorities.

The Department of Labor’s (DOL) Chief Evaluation Office (CEO) sponsors independent evaluations and research, primarily conducted by external, third-party contractors in accordance with the Department of Labor Evaluation Policy. CEO’s research development process includes extensive technical review at the design, data collection and analysis stage, including: external contractor review and OMB review and approval of data collection methods and instruments per the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), Institutional Review Board (IRB) review to ensure studies adhere to the highest ethical standards, review by academic peers (e.g., Technical Working Groups), and inputs from relevant DOL agency and program officials and CEO technical staff. Final reports undergo an additional independent expert technical review and a review for Section 508 compliance prior to publication. The resulting reports represent findings from this independent research and do not represent DOL positions or policies.