About Us

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates™ is a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Out & Equal champions safe and equitable workplaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. The organization advocates building and strengthening successful organizations that value all employees, customers, and communities.

Our Mission
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates educates and empowers organizations, human resources professionals, employee resource groups, and individual employees through programs that result in equal policies, opportunities, practices and benefits in the workplace regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression or characteristics.

CEO Message

2009 Out & Equal Workplace Summit to highlight amazing year for LGBT equality

The year has been amazing and incredible here at Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, and the next few months will be even more exciting.

Our second-annual National Celebration of Workplace Equality Dinner & Awards, held on June 11 in San Francisco, was an enormous success, attracting nearly 300 people from across the country to honor workplace courage and leadership in supporting workplace and marriage equality.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who attended the celebration, our many sponsors, hosts, volunteers, and partners, including those who generously made contributions and donated to our silent auction.

I was encouraged to see the introduction in June of an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would be the first federal law to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees from workplace discrimination.

Known as ENDA, this bill will add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal employment non-discrimination laws, making it illegal to treat LGBT people unfairly.

This is definitely welcome news, as Out & Equal has worked tirelessly for more than a decade to assure that the nation's leading corporations provide policies and protections for its LGBT employees.

We all know that not every workplace is an out and equal workplace, and not everyone feels comfortable coming out at work. One reason for that is the lack of legal protections.

I am optimistic that a fully inclusive ENDA will soon be signed into law, providing a legal framework that will protect all of us, making it possible to bring our whole selves to work each day.

We have an extraordinary few months ahead of us, highlighted, of course, by the 2009 Out & Equal Workplace Summit, set for Oct. 6-9 in Florida.

The Summit, which this year will be at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort near Orlando, will feature some of the world's most highly-sought and inspirational speakers on business and LGBT issues.

Register before the end of the month to take advantage of special rates, and assure yourself a seat to see John Berry, the highest-ranking openly gay person in President Barack Obama's administration discuss the future of LGBT workplace equality from a federal perspective.

John Berry was the driving force behind President Obama's decision to extend limited domestic partnership benefits to LGBT federal employees, a move he calls "the first step, not the final step" in the federal government's stride toward workplace equality.

You also will not want to miss one of the most influential business women in the world—Sharon L. Allen, chairman of Deloitte LLP—deliver her speech. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from one of the most highly respected and brilliant business professionals in the world, known for her leadership throughout her career.

I'm sure you'll agree that this continues to be an exciting year full of anticipation as well as inspiration. Over the next few months, we will continue to provide you with regular updates on registration, keynotes, workshops, and all aspects of the Summit.

I look forward to seeing you in Orlando in October!