THE RAINBOW GLASS CEILING: BREAKING BARRIERS FOR LGBTQ plus INCLUSION IN BOARD DIVERSITY

Board diversity has attracted scholarly interest over recent decades, as achieving diverse boards has become a crucial goal of many firms and policymakers worldwide. However, the predominant focus of both research and practice regarding board diversity largely excludes individuals who do not identify or behave according to their sex assigned at birth-that is, those belonging to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other identities (LGBTQ+) + ) community. In this study, I take a closer look at board diversity by unpacking the mechanisms of the rainbow glass ceiling, , defined as the barriers that prevent LGBTQ+ + individuals from reaching top corporate positions, including board membership. I then draw on biological sciences to identify LGBTQ+s' + s' behavioral adaptation strategies for overcoming the rainbow glass ceiling to become board directors and subsequently build on management research to explain why they choose such strategies. In doing so, I offer a framework for the development and implementation of policies and practices to lower the barriers that LGBTQ+s + s face to reach and thrive in the boardroom, thus paving way for their acceptance and visibility at the corporate apex.