LGBT Executive Leaders engage at 2011 Executive Forum

The 2011 Executive Forum began on March 28th and serves as a unique experience for out lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender executives to connect, challenge each other and develop tangible strategies to promote equality in the workplace.

On Monday evening, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) executive leaders kicked-off the 4th annual Executive Forum at the St Regis Hotel in San Francisco. The event continues through March 30th and engages participants in dialogue about executive roles in the ongoing LGBT workplace equality movement.

United States Civil Rights Commissioner, Roberta Achtenberg, addressed the Executive Forum participants this morning and shared her vision of a more equal America. At lunch, Boris Dittrich, Advocacy Director of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Program for Human Rights Watch will share his perspectives as a veteran of the international human rights movement.

For more information about the 2011 Executive Forum, click here to download the Program Book.

Out & Equal celebrates the contributions of LGBT advocates

This week, Out & Equal will honor leaders and achievements in the LGBT workplace equality movement at the 2011 Leadership Celebration.

On Wednesday evening, Out & Equal will proudly host the 2011 Leadership Celebration at the St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. The 2011 Leadership Celebration highlights the achievements of leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and this year emphasizes individual empowerment with the theme, “The Power of One.” Out & Equal will honor Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom as a national leader in the LGBT equality movement with the Out & Equal Advocacy Award.

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Becoming a Presidential Appointee for openly LGBT professionals

Join LGBTCareerLink’s free webinar to learn more,
April 27th, 2011 at 12 noon-12:45pm PST
Brought to you by Out & Equal's LGBTCareerLink

President Obama has appointed over 100 openly LGBT Americans to his administration, including 25 at a level requiring confirmation by the U.S. Senate. This 45-minute webinar will explain how you might qualify to serve in this distinguished, history-making administration.

Presenters: Samir Luther, Director of the Presidential Appointments Project and Zachary Portilla, Assistant, Office of Presidential Personnel, The White House.

February's LGBTCareerLink webinar attendance topped 300--early registration is advisable because this webinar must be limited to 100 people.

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Insuring Equality: The Next Wave of Benefits

Out & Equal's Metro New York Council will co-host a panel discussion on concept of benefits equalization in partnership with Google.

The event will address current and upcoming issues of benefits equality for the LGBT community with insight from a wealth of business leaders.The panel discussion is scheduled for Thursday, March 31st at 76 9th Ave. (between 15th and 16th) beginning at 6:45pm, with beer, wine, and hors d’oeuvres served beginning at 6:00pm.

Panel moderator: Tara Siegal Bernard,
Personal Finance Reporter with The New York Times

Panelists:

• Lisa Linsky, Partner in Charge of Diversity, McDermott Will & Emerry LLP
• Andy Sendall, Co-Chair, Interbank Roundtable Committee (IRC); Director, Barclays Capital
• Rachel Belleson, Google Benefits Specialist
• Daryl Herrschaft, Director of the Workplace Project, Human Rights Campaign

Registration is now open!

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Reflections from Michelle Smith on "Transgender Lives"

On February 22nd, Michelle Smith, a member of Out & Equal’s Transgender Advisory Committee was featured on Lisa Ling’s “Our America.” Michelle shared her thoughts with Out & Equal on the subject of publicizing her life in order to start much-needed dialogue in America.

O&E: What was it like to have your life on display for the program?

Michelle: It’s exciting. Lisa and the team were absolutely great to work with. We didn’t seek to do this. The show was looking for a support group to film and approached the St Louis Gender Foundation through me. They asked those who were interested in being interviewed during that filming to fill out a questionnaire and they loved our family’s story and they chose us to be a featured participant.

O&E: How do you expect American viewers to react to the episode?

Michelle: I expect there to be the reaction that is stirred whenever a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender topic is shown in the media. There will be the religious views that just being LGBT is wrong. There will be those that fully support. There will be those that just have a let them live their life attitude. I hope it starts a conversation. I hope people become a little more sensitive that someone next to them in the grocery store may be transgender.

O&E: How do you hope the episode might help viewers better understand and appreciate the American transgender community?

Michelle: I believe that one of the major problems for the transgender community and the public understands of it is one of the publicity surrounding it. The public never sees the multitude of transgender individuals that are realizing and living their lives as the person they know and feel they are. I hope that this show helps the public understand that most transgender individuals are no different than themselves just trying to live their lives like everyone else with friends, family, and work aspects to it.

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We’ve been out & about

Last week, Out & Equal's Associate Director of Training, Pat Baillie brought the message of workplace equality to the Multicultural Diversity Forum in Minneapolis. As with each outreach event, Out & Equal gave away a "goodie bag" and free registration to the 2011 Workplace Summit to one lucky winner! This drawing's winner was Jeffrey Smith from P&G--congratulations, Jeffrey!

Pat Baillie working the Out & Equal booth at the Multicultural Diversity Forum in Minneapolis.

Join Out & Equal in April at the Linkage Diversity Summit in Atlanta for more information about how you can advocate for workplace equality and for your chance to win a free registration to the 2011 Workplace Summit in Dallas!

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