Also read: LGBT, civil rights, domestic-partner benefits, LGBT pride, name-calling

Randy Miller, an operations manager at the Chubb Group of Insurance in Minneapolis, came out in the workplace when he was 27.

Although I knew I was gay at a young age, I came out to close friends at 19. Four years later, when I wanted to share the news of a new relationship, I told my mother that I was gay. She was surprised at first but very accepting. Sharing my sexual orientation in the workplace, however, wasn't as easy.

Click here to read "To Come Out (or Not to Come Out) at Work?"

Click here to read "Coming Out...Again."

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In my early 20s, I worked in retail and experienced several incidents of harassment by coworkers. Once, when I posted my name on a sign-up sheet for a volunteer project, a fellow employee wrote the word "fag" beside my name. Another time, my car was "keyed" in the employee parking lot and, again, the word "fag" was used. These hurtful, hateful incidents kept me in the closet for years at work.

Nearly a decade had passed before I took the first courageous step to come out to colleagues. At that time, I worked for an insurance company and decided to attend the company's LGBT employee-resource-group lunch-and-learn. At the luncheon, a coworker, who is a lesbian, addressed the group by sharing her coming-out-at-work story. That helped give me the courage I needed. So I slowly began by honestly answering personal questions colleagues would ask, such as "Do you have a girlfriend?" Instead of just answering "no," I started to say that I was gay or I'd mention my boyfriend. As I grew more comfortable with my sexual orientation, I stopped using gender-neutral language (e.g., my roommate) when describing my partner.

Then, last year, as an employee of Chubb Group of Insurance, I was given a new assignment: to head our office in St. Louis. Although I was excited about the opportunity, this meant I'd be working with a new group of colleagues--and I'd have to come out once again at work. With each new business setting, I evaluated my surroundings and decided the best way to introduce myself and what to divulge. Often, I'd introduce myself by showing pictures of my family, which includes my partner and five-year-old Papillon dog. The reason: to help "put it out there" right away and not make my new staff feel awkward after asking about my wife or kids.

My advice for employees who are deciding when and how to come out is to be sure to work for a company that's inclusive to all people. How would you know this? A few questions to ask:

· Does the company have an LGBT employee-resource group?

· Are other employees out?

· Does the company offer same-sex domestic-partner benefits?

· Does the company's code of conduct address sexual orientation and identity?

· Is information about sexual orientation or identity prominently displayed on the company's web site?

Before I even applied for a job at Chubb, for instance, I knew the company's work environment was inclusive. I had participated in an annual Out & Equal conference and Chubb was a major sponsor with a strong employee presence. Today, I represent Chubb at Out & Equal conferences and am involved in the company's LGBT employee-resource group.

These and other volunteer projects have contributed to my personal and professional success. Although I took a step down from an analyst to an entry-level role to join Chubb, I don't regret it. I've been promoted four times over the past five years. What's more, I feel more engaged at Chubb than any previous employer because of the welcoming work culture. It's also rewarding to know that I'm helping others feel comfortable enough to come out at work.