2011 Executive Forum Application Process Opens!

We are now accepting applications and nominations for the 2011
Out & Equal Executive Forum to be held March 28-30 at the St. Regis San Francisco!

The 4th annual Out & Equal Executive Forum will bring lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender executives together for a unique experience to build connections, address challenges and opportunities, and take home tangible ways to enhance effectiveness as leaders.

This year's Forum will be chaired by Xerox Region Vice President Julie Hogan, and Scott Beth, Vice President of Finance Operations at Intuit. Once again, leadership consultant Christie Hardwick will facilitate the Executive Forum experience, assisted this year by Rayona Sharpnack and Gerry Hansen.

For more information, please visit our website or contact Deputy Director Kevin Jones at 415-694-6536.

2011 Leadership Celebration — Tickets Now Available

Out & Equal's Annual Leadership Celebration is open for all to celebrate advancements in workplace equality. Scheduled this year for March 30, 2011 at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco, the Leadership Celebration promises to be an exciting evening. Each year, the winners and honorees are true role models and advocates, encouraging businesses and others to get involved in promoting workplace equality through leadership. The 2011 Leadership Celebration reception begins at 5:30pm with dinner at 7:00pm. Reserve your seat for the fourth-annual Out & Equal Leadership Celebration today!

For more information, please contact Events Manager Dani Siragusa, 415-694-6519.

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Out & Equal honors 2010 sponsors through Safe Space Campaign donation

In honor of all our 2010 sponsors, Out & Equal donated 125 Safe Space Kits to help schools in the national effort to stop the bullying of LGBT youth. The Safe Space Campaign, headed by GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, coordinated the distribution of the kits. “Out & Equal is pleased to have had the support of so many generous companies and organizations this year,” said Sherrie Holmes Out & Equal Director of Development, “We were inspired by our Summit keynote speaker and ‘out’ country music artist Chely Wright who is a spokeswoman for the Campaign, and thought this would be an excellent way to express our appreciation for our treasured sponsors.”

2011 Out & Equal Sponsorships are now being accepted for:
Executive Forum, March 28-30, San Francisco
Leadership Celebration, March 30, San Francisco
Out & Equal Workplace Summit, October 25-28, Dallas
LGBTCareerLink, national diversity talent recruitment jobs board

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Out & Equal on LGBT legislation

As the 111th Congress comes to a close, the LGBT community is celebrating the repeal of DADT while lamenting that the Employment Non Discrimination Act must wait for another day. While ENDA did not become law in 2010, at Out & Equal Workplace Advocates we have seen that legislation is not the only way to promote equality.

In a recent article published by Echelon Magazine, Out & Equal’s Deputy Director Kevin Jones explained, “As lebian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees know well, we have never needed to rely on legislation to achieve meaningful progress in the workplace.” From a business perspective, employees and employers can achieve equality in the workplace through a variety of policy and benefit changes. Partnering with Out & Equal and attending an event such as the Executive Forum or Workplace Summit demonstrates solidarity with the LGBT community and provides invaluable educational opportunities.

Read the entire piece from Kevin Jones in Echelon Magazine and don’t miss a recent piece by Bob Witeck on The Business Case for Marriage Equality (p30) based on his participation in the 2010 Workplace Summit.

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Third Out & Equal Northeast Regional Workplace Summit

Thanks to a joint effort by our Regional Affiliates in the northeast,
Out & Equal is pleased to announce the 3rd annual Northeast Regional Workplace Summit to take place in Rochester, NY, on Thursday, April 14, 2011. This one-day event will bring great workshops and speakers to the local region, and offers an opportunity to get a taste of Summit in the springtime. Save the date – and stay tuned for more information.

Planning committees from Out & Equal affiliates in NY Finger Lakes, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington DC have formed, but more volunteers are welcome. If you are interested in being a part of the planning or volunteering for the event, contact us at networks@outandequal.org and we can connect you to the planning team!

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Dow continues their commitment to equality

The Dow Chemical Company, winner of the 2010 Out & Equal Significant Achievement Award, continues to celebrate organizational advances in workplace equality through ERG leadership and executive support. A recent internally posted article by the Dow Chemical Company explained that the company was awarded, "its efforts to support a diverse workforce and create an inclusive workplace, as well as for the efforts of the Gays, Lesbians and Allies at Dow (GLAD) Network."

“This is a pivotal moment for Dow, as receiving an Out & Equal award reflects nearly a decade of continued efforts and progress for the GLAD network and for our company,” said Howard Ungerleider, vice president, Investor Relations and executive sponsor, GLAD, who accepted the award on behalf of Dow. “This not only demonstrates that we foster an accepting and inclusive workplace at Dow, but also strengthens our ability to attract and retain top talent and build upon our reputation with key stakeholders.”

“GLAD has been a strong force in promoting inclusion, championing respect and advocating for the fundamental rights of LGBT colleagues in the workplace since its formation more than 10 years ago,” said Gregory Freiwald, executive vice president, Human Resources. “GLAD's work goes well beyond supporting LGBT employees, helping us to foster a culture that reflects our value of ‘respect for people’ and is characterized by inclusion. As a result, all Dow employees benefit from GLAD's work."

In addition to Dow receiving the 2010 Significant Achievement Award, Bill Hendrix, DAS Biology team leader and GLAD co-team Leader, also personally received the 2010 Trailblazer Award – which recognizes an LGBT person who has made significant contributions to advancing workplace equality by helping improve their own workplace or contributing to equality nationally.

"I want to thank my colleagues at Dow for the chance to accomplish these goals and to contribute to the advancement of parity for all employees that enable professional success,” said Hendrix. “When I started at Dow more than 20 years ago, I could never have envisioned the opportunities and successes that I have been afforded.”

Receiving these awards puts Dow in the company of other premiere employers such as Accenture, Ernst & Young, Kodak, Ford, Salt Lake City Corporation, Goldman, Sachs & Co., PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM, among others who have won the Out & Equal awards in recent years.

Out & Equal once again congratulates Dow on receiving this prestigious award and for promoting workplace equality every day.

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Out & Equal applauds New York Representative Jerry Nadler's proposed amendment to the Fair Housing Act

Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) recently proposed a bill to amend the currently-standing Fair Housing Act. This amendment attempts to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or source of income. Out & Equal applauds Nadler’s courageous proposal and supports a swift passage of the bill.

Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, Mara Keisling remarked, that “Transgender people urgently need protection from discrimination in housing. It is unconscionable that people are being forced out of their home and onto the streets because of prejudice."

As an organization that continues to advocate for equal opportunities for all people inclusive of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and characteristics, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates supports this initiative to create equal housing opportunities for the transgender community. According to Out & Equal’s Founding Executive Director, Selisse Berry, “It is imperative that the LGBT community and its allies support measures such as this proposed by Representative Nadler. Housing, like employment, is an essential human right that should be available to everyone.”

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Free Webinar: How to have a successful career as an out LGBT employee

This New Year, resolve to make your professional development a top priority by signing up for Out & Equal's free webinars!

On February 2, 2011 at 12:00pm PST Out & Equal's LGBTCareerLink is holding a free webinar titled, "How to have a successful career as an out LGBT employee." Presented by David Couper and sponsored by Deutsche Bank Careers, this webinar will train participants on how being out at work can lead to greater career success, increased fulfillment at work and a more empowered future. Participants will learn how to:

    • Be out on the job so that you create value for your organization
    • Capitalize on being out in your career through four easy steps
    • Overcome barriers to being successful and an out LGBT
    employee

Register now to guarantee your space!

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