EEO & Diversity

Actors' Equity endorses the goals of diversity, inclusion, and the principles of equal opportunity for all who work in the theatre industry, and condemns racism, prejudice, discrimination and exclusion in the theatre. To these ends, we encourage employment and production opportunities in all disciplines and areas of theatrical production to include persons of every race, color, culture, age, gender, physical disability and sexual orientation, thereby achieving a theatre industry, both on and off stage, that reflects the full diversity of American society.

The Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Department investigates allegations of discrimination against Actors of color, seniors, women, Actors with disabilities and bias based on sexual orientation, and compiles statistics about non-traditional casting. The Department works with the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts to promote diversity in the casting of roles where race, ethnicity, gender, age, and the presence or absence of a disability is not absolutely essential to the development of the play or character. If an Actor has an allegation of discrimination, please contact the Equal Employment Department by phone or email. A full investigation will then be conducted. If warranted, an investigation will proceed to arbitration.

As a co-founder of the Alliance for Inclusion in the Arts, Equity fully endorses the Documents of Principal

We Shall Overcome: Equity's Historic Fight Against Discrimination