Being out in the workplace is difficult, but being open in such a potentially hostile place can pave the way and create the space for people after you. It can be an economic gamble to place that stigmatized identity out in the open, but it also forces discomfort and growth of space.
It often comes down to the creation of a close-knit support group to replace understanding of the LGBTQ experience on a broader scale. When LGBTQ people have a supportive group which they belong to, the negative effects of homophobia or transphobia can be curtailed through a stronger support system.
Everyone is sharing in the burden of homophobia and transphobia. Companies who have unsupportive culture lead to less productivity from their LGBTQ and BIPOC employees. Families are torn apart from disowning or not accepting their children. Creating a supportive culture benefits all of us.