News for Out & Equal Certified Trainers

 We are getting a lot of requests for more information on the implementation of DOMA for employees.  What we know so far is that federal employees are immediately going to get the benefits that they have been lacking so long for their same sex partners. From a recruiting perspective, companies should be aware, especially in government contractor areas, that the federal government may now seem more attractive to employees. Lack of benefits has traditionally been the reason many have sought corporate employment instead of federal service. We also want to be sure that corporations do not start a discussion about ending domestic partner benefits if they are in states where marriage is legal. It is still unclear how companies will handle transfers of employees to states that don't have marriage and how long it will take for DP to change their relationship status.  Keeping this option open for employees is important to maintain until DOMA is overturned by the Respect for Marriage Act (introduced in both houses on June 26, 2013). We can expect over the next few months to get more guidance from the IRS and other federal agencies on how to apply benefits to same sex couples. This is a good chance to look at the registration process for same sex couples and be sure they parallel opposite sex marriages.  We will have a webinar in the next month or so that discusses a lot of these topics and we will be covering these highlights in the upcoming Trainer's Forum.

Be sure to send in your training reports for the second quarter (or from the first of the year).  Just include any training you have done using any of the Out & Equal Leadership Diversity materials with the date, location and how many attended.  Also please include any evaluation summary so we can include that in our data as well!  

July's trainer's forum was on July 10 and the recording will be posted shortly on the Trainer's Network filing cabinet. To learn more and to share your questions/insights, please join us for our next monthly Trainers' Forum Webinar on Monday, August 12 at 1:00 pm (Pacific). Contact Pat Baillie for more information.  

Current Research

Study of the Month:   

Organizational Values and Valuing Yourself  

The "Study of the Month" column features LGBTA-related research studies conducted by members of the Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology (SIOP). SIOP is the premier membership organization for those practicing and teaching Industrial-Organizational Psychology, the scientific study of the workplace. For more information about SIOP, please visit www.siop.org.  

Most organizations have a set of values and beliefs that become the norm among a majority of its employees. However, many employees may not share those beliefs and are faced with a decision of whether or not to conform. The current study is a national sample of LGB employees. Participants responded to an online survey pertaining to the disclosure of sexual identity in the workplace.

Choosing to disclose sexual identity is a choice many LGB employees make according to their own constitution as well as their organizational culture. The current research shows that the decision to disclose sexual identity is directly related to how much LGB employees chose to disclose other aspects about themselves such as their values and beliefs at work. Employees who are more disclosed (disclosed to more people) about their LGB status are less likely to conform to organizational values that do not fully align with their own. Employees who are less disclosed about their LGB status are more likely to withhold their own views, create false impressions and ostensibly embrace those of their organization. However, a higher sense of authenticity in LGB individuals lead to lower levels of conformity to organizational norms.

An organization where LGB employees are less disclosed about their minority status may also be an environment that compels those same individuals to suppress their person values and beliefs. These findings suggest that employers should encourage a sense of authenticity among their LGB employees if they wish to promote an environment that fosters diversity of thought and benefits from the different experiences of all its employee.

This study was presented at the annual Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology conference in April of 2013 by Jacob M. Waldrup, Jose Rodriguez & Valentina Bruk-Lee. For more information, please contact Jacob Waldrup. 

Out & Equal at Southern Comfort Conference - A Unique Educational Opportunity

The Southern Comfort Conference (SCC) is one of the premier LGBT events in the country with a specific focus on the transgender community.  Entering its 23rd year, SCC will run from September 4th through 8th at the Crowne Plaza @ Ravinia in Atlanta GA. SCC provides the LGBT community with the needed Information to help them make intelligent decisions that may have life altering effects. This comes in the form of three days of intensive seminars. Many of the best doctors, therapists, voice coaches, and other professionals catering specifically to our attendees needs, will be in attendance

This year, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is excited to be working with SCC to create a one-day program on Friday, September 6th that focuses specifically on issues of workplace equality impacting the transgender community. 

The Out & Equal Workplace Equality Track at SCC will include a number of workshops throughout the day, in addition to general sessions that feature two of the leading voices in the LGBT equality movement from the transgender community. The breakfast plenary session will feature remarks from Transgender Law Center Executive Director Masen Davis, while the luncheon session will welcome business executive and transgender activist Meghan Stabler. 

The full day program will provide SCC attendees with an outstanding insight into the issues that transgender employees face in the workplace.  Additionally, SCC is making the one day Friday program available as a separate registration option!  For a discounted rate of $95, interested HR and Diversity professionals, Employee Resource Group leaders, and Out & Equal constituents can register specifically for the Out & Equal Workplace Equality Track. This special registration not only provides a unique educational opportunity for LGBT employees and allies, but also will provide an affordable introduction to the SCC experience.

Registration for the September 6th Out & Equal Workplace Equality Track at SCC is available ONLINE HERE until August 12, 2013.

Registration the  Southern Comfort Conference is also available on line through August 12, 2013.