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GLIFAA at Out and Equal Conference
Please let Ajit Joshi
know if you will attend the Out & Equal conference. |
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We hope if you are in DC you can attend TONIGHT's Monthly Happy Hour at Nellies, 6-8PM! Our next meeting will be our Yearly retreat on October 3rd - we hope you can attend (there will be no other meeting this month).
GLIFAA Medial Insurance Survey: If you have purchased health care for your same-sex or opposite-sex unmarried partner, please help us help you by filling out this brief survey!
Please let Ajit Joshi know if you will attend the Out & Equal conference. GLIFAA will participate in 2 panels on Friday, Oct 9 - Federal Sector and ERG Finalists of the Year (GLIFAA is a finalist!).
If you cannot attend in Orlando, Out and Equal in has several upcoming LGBT leadership training opportunities in Washington DC: "LGBT Diversity Leadership Training in the Workplace" ($25) and "LGBT Diversity Leadership Training - Train the Trainer" ($135) Out & Equal will also offer a "Building Bridges Training" workshop ($90) For those interested GLIFAA members who might want to register or participate, please contact Ken Seifert at for more information and see more details below.
-The GLIFAA Board |
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 TONIGHT!: GLIFAA Monthly Happy Hour @ Nellies
Location: Nellie's Sports Bar
900 U Street NW
Metro: U Street (Green/Yellow Line)
Tuesday, September 8
6:00pm-8:00pm
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GLIFAA Yearly Retreat!
Join GLIFAA as we set our objectives for the year!
Location: The Friends Meeting Of Washington
2111 Florida Ave NW
Metro: Dupont Circle
Saturday, October 3
9:00am - 4:30pm
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If you have purchased health insurance for your same-sex partner or
opposite-sex unmarried partner, or if you and/or your partner are
transgender, please help us help you by filling out this brief survey.
Your participation will help us create an inventory of available
medical insurance plans (along with costs, range of coverage, etc.).
You may contact Anthony Cotton with comments or questions. Thank you! |
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Please join us for our Annual Fall Reception as we present four distinguished service awards to individuals and organizations who have made outstanding contributions to our community.
Honorees Councilmember Phil Mendelson Jonathan Blumenthal Gay Men's Chorus of Washington Clergy for Marriage (to learn more about our honorees, click here)Purchase Your Tickets Now click here to purchase your tickets online Your continued support of The DC Center makes it possible for us to continue our many programs and services. And remember, as a 501(c)3 organization, your donation to The DC Center is tax-deductible. Location: Artists In Residence
1824 R Street NW
Metro: Dupont Circle
Thursday, September 10
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DC LGBT Diversity Training by Out and Equal
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates LGBT Diversity Leadership in the Workplace is designed to break down barriers and fosters communication between all employees.
The LGBT Diversity Leadership course, led by LGBT employees and allies in the workplace, is designed to help get the most out of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) employees and their coworkers by creating a more comfortable atmosphere within which to work. This training fosters alliances between LGBT and straight employees by opening up communication and developing a healthier workplace.
The training is broken up into two sessions:
1) LGBT Diversity Leadership Training - A presentation of the actual 90 minute course that will be provided to those completing Train the Trainer (TTT). This is a demonstration for those enrolled in TTT but is also great for building individual understanding and evaluating this training for use at your company;
2) Train the Trainer -(TTT) - All day workshop which includes the LGBT Diversity Leadership course, concepts, terminology, and the business case regarding LGBT employees. Information about Out & Equal philosophy, training, telling your own story to support the learning objectives will also be covered.
By the end of the workshop, participants will be certified for a period of two years from course completion to teach the LGBT Diversity Leadership course in their workplace. Graduates will receive course materials which include an editable slide deck and an invitation to join the online Trainer's Network for continued support after the course. Many trainers volunteer and are selected to assist Out & Equal training staff to present other Out & Equal courses at other locations.
Location: Deloitte
555 12th Street N.W.
Ste. 500
Metro: Metro Center
Thursday, September 22
8:30am-10:30am
(Class only $25)
8:30am-5:00pm
(Class and Full Diversity Training $135)
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Building Bridges toward LGBT Diversity in the Workplace training is a three-four-hour workshop conducted by two certified Out & Equal trainers. Depending on the needs of the organization, the target group can include senior executives, managers, human resources, diversity professionals, customer service representatives, and the general employee population. Unique perspectives of the corporate/business, social services, faith communities, governmental and educational settings are included in the various courses.
The course is designed is designed to help employers get the most from all employees, LGBT and non-LGBT. This training fosters increased awareness to develop a healthier and safer workplace where all employees are engaged in the mission of the organization, increasing the level of comfort for all and improving communication between LGBT and straight employees and the customers they serve.
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
* State the significance of LGBT identity in the context of broader diversity issues
* Evaluate myths and stereotypes about people who identify LGBT
* Discuss the impact of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexism on workplace and customer relationships
* Be familiar with the steps to becoming an ally to the LGBT community and workplace equality
Location: Deloitte
555 12th Street N.W.
Ste. 500
Metro: Metro Center
Thursday, September 24
9:00am-1:00pm ($90)
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Michell Gold + Bob Williams host a reception/fundraiser to support LGBT immigrant families for Immigration Equality.
Special Guests: Shirley Tan & Jay Mercado, recently featured in People magazine.
With a special opportunity to win a $2,500 Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams shopping spree.
Admission is free. Please bring your checkbook.
Location: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Storefront
1526 14th Street N.W.
Metro: Dupont Circle
Monday, September 14
6:00pm - 8:00pm
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State Department Recognizes ALL Marriage Certificates for Name Change
STATE DEPARTMENT WILL NOW RECOGNIZE ALL U.S. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES FOR PASSPORT NAME CHANGE
(The Policy change affects name recognition only; State still does not recognize same-sex marriages)
There's
another hole in the dam as we continue our struggle towards full
equality! In a recent cable (State 85355) the Department announced a
new policy that recognizes ALL U.S. marriage certificates for the purpose of recognizing a name change in passport issuance.
The Department has also revised 7 FAM 1359 Appendix C, part of which now reads as follows: "The
Department may recognize a legal name change based upon a
marriage certificate because states generally provide
for lawful name change upon marriage. The Department is
not recognizing the marriage certificate for
purposes of upholding or determining the validity or the
status of the marriage. With respect to passport issuance
the Department does not address the matter of marriage validity but is addressing only a state-recognized
legal name change."
Obviously
much remains to be done - for example, a repeal of DOMA would allow
same-sex marriages to be recognized for purposes of immigration. But
this is another step in the right direction, and we will continue to
push for more.
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Thanks to the many GLIFAA members who've been doing some excellent work
this past month! Ray Murphy, for taking the lead on updating our MOH
guide to include the new benefits for same sex partners. Anthony
Cotton, who's been researching health insurance options
for same sex partners and to see if any options include transgender
wellness. Lori Du Truielle for representing GLIFAA at the last USAID
Executive Diversity Council and working with USAID's Blacks in Government (BIG) to organize a joint GLIFAA-BIG event at USAID featuring a video of Julian Bond,
when he spoke at HRC's LA Dinner. Nadeem Shah for his leadership in
trying to organize an event with Eric Alva, a gay Latino disabled
Veteran as well as for Nadeem's work on updating the presentation to
USAID's next DLI 8 class (equivalent to State's A 100). And to Sarah
Alcantar for her upcoming article in State Magazine!
GLIFAA wants to give a special thanks to Chris Lamora, a Consular-coned
GLIFAA member who has been helping us think through all issues consular
with an eye to making life better for LGBT people worldwide. For
example, Chris helped with the policy change noted above, the acceptance of ALL marriage certificates (including those of same-sex
couples) for the purpose of registering a name change on a passport.
We're talking to CA about much, much more, thanks to Chris's ideas.
Nothing is guaranteed yet, but we're made a lot of progress thanks to
his fresh thinking. Thanks Chris!
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We Need LGBT and Straight Colleagues Alike to Make Full Equality a Reality
We've already seen how powerful a gay-straight alliance in our workplace can be. When Secretary Clinton took office, we presented her a letter from 2,200 current and former staff asking that we "be treated equally and with the same respect." The secretary listened - and she led! State soon became the first department to offer partner benefits. USAID has said they will follow State's lead, as have other departments and agencies. Still - much work remains. For example, employees still cannot put their partners on FEHB health insurance, nor can they sponsor their partners for citizenship. GLIFAA's friends have already made a difference. Sign up for our email alerts at www.glifaa.org/friends to show your continued support, and we'll give you ideas of how you can show support and have an impact.
Participants may register online here.
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USAID's Diversity Council Meeting Notes
Notes on USAID Executive
Diversity Council Meeting August 25, 2009 from
330-430
The following topic areas were
covered during the meeting:
Discussion of Building Bridges
Program upcoming events
1- Asian Pacific Islander Event with
Blacks in Government- This was the talk with Ken Yamashita. Bhavani Pathak reported that the event was
well attended and the participants appreciated the open and frank discussions
with Ken. Ambassador Michaels then went on to open a discussion about
marketing and exposure of affinity group events such as the Asian Pacific
Islander and Blacks in Government
(BIG)
event. He shared his view that it is important to widely disseminate
the information and to use the events as a way to raise
consciousness. He added that event descriptions should clearly state how
participating will benefit the
attendee.
2- American Indian Event- Calvina
Dupree is organizing an event to be co-sponsored by all affinity groups on
September 10th from 12-130. Representatives from American Indian National
Organizations will be represented for a professional outreach and awareness
event from the in the Four Points Conference
Room.
3- HECFAA, Veterans, GLIFAA Event: The HECFAA representative
reported on plans to coordinate with sister affinity groups to bring Eric
Alva to USAID for a Building Bridges program. NASA is bringing Eric
to DC and HECFAA is working to take advantage of his presence for him to be
support the Building Bridges Program.
3- Economically Depressed Areas in
the US- No update reported.
4- LGBT event with BIG- I
reported that BIG and GLIFAA are
coordinating to co-sponsor an event to show the Julian Bond video from his
speech at the HRC Dinner in LA. Ambassador Michaels liked the idea and suggested
that we may want to post a link to the video on the diversity website.
Discussion of development of list of
training opportunities and action offices for affinity group
members- I reported that a draft is
available and will send the final version to HR for posting. Ambassador
Michaels suggested that the list should be posted on the diversity
website.
Discussion of Incentive Award for
Diversity and Inclusiveness- There was some
discussion about whether or not people understood the relationship between the
EEO award and the concepts of inclusiveness and diversity in the
workplace. Ambassador Michaels suggested that the terms 'inclusiveness'
and 'diversity' should perhaps be highlighted in the award description, for
example.
Plan for the 'State of the Union'
message on diversity and inclusiveness to be delivered at the Council's next
public meeting in September- There was some
discussion about dates considering the end of the ICF consulting contract (end
of September) and the departure of Gene George (October 5th). The State of
the Union message will state what the Council has achieved and challenges ahead.
Some of the survey results will be presented at the meeting. There
will also be a DLI update in the message. The ICF consultant will
coordinate the meeting in addition to working with Ambassador Michaels to draft
the message.
Other
Business: Nadeem reported that he is working
to develop an agency wide survey to investigate some adverse reactions that
some DLI class members have endured from other employees.
Ruth Derr reported on two upcoming
opportunities: SES information session on
Thursday and the Leadership at Every Level training opportunity on September
2nd.
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