Out & Equal
Encyclopedia
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates (commonly known as "Out & Equal") is a United States
non-profit organization
headquartered in San Francisco, California
.
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates (commonly known as "Out & Equal") is a United States non-profit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality organization headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Out & Equal achieved 501(c)(3) status in 2004, after years as a program of the United Way of the Bay Area. UWBA hired Selisse Berry (Out & Equal’s founding executive director) in December 1996 as director of the Building Bridges
training program.
Out & Equal describes its organizational vision as, “To achieve workplace equality for all regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, or characteristics .” In addition, Out & Equal provides training and sensitivity resources to LGBT employees and corporations alike through advocacy, training programs and events.
The Building Bridges program worked under the United Way Bay Area and developed partnership with fellow LGBT organizations around the Bay Area.
By 1998, three LGBT workplace organizations merged in an effort to effectively collaborate on their common mission of creating safe and affirming workplaces for LGBT individuals—called the Pride Collaborative. These organizations included Building Bridges, A Group of Groups (AGOG), and Progress.
In 1999 The Pride Collaborative merged with COLLEAGUES, a national organization that sponsored the annual Out & Equal Summit aimed at human resource professionals and LGBT employees, to form Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, and the current organizational structure was born. That same year, Progress’s Leadership Summit and COLLEAGUES’ Out & Equal Conference combined resources to produce the annual Out & Equal Workplace Summit, one of the keystone programs of the organization.
In January 2004, after years of being supported by the United Way of the Bay Area, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates became an independent 501 [c] 3 organization.
”—an award ceremony aimed at recognizing leaders in LGBT workplace equality.
Out & Equal’s Workplace Summit is considered to be appropriate for federal training in compliance with 5 U.S.C. Chapter 41. As proclaimed by Human Resources Director John Berry
on August 6, 2010, the Out & Equal Workplace Summit is open to all federal employees.
2000:
2001:
2002:
2003:
2004:
2005:
2006:
2007: Washington, DC
2008: Austin, TX
The 2009 Workplace Summit was held in Orlando, Florida and the 2010 Workplace Summit was held on October 5-8 at the Los Angeles Convention Center
. It was announced that the 2011 summit will be held in Dallas, Texas
.
The Out & Equal Town Call speaker series feature of monthly telephone conference calls with guest speakers discussing LGBT workplace topics. Each call includes a presentation followed by a question and answer session in a one-hour time frame. Town Calls are free for the public and are built to fit into a regular workday.
, Atlanta, Chicagoland
, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, Indiana
, Kansas City
, Metro New York, NY Finger Lakes, Philadelphia, Portland/SW Washington, Rocky Mountain, San Francisco Bay Area
, Seattle, Southern California
, St. Louis, Tampa Bay
and Washington, D.C.
In July 2010, Out & Equal’s Associate Director of NETWORKS and Regional Affiliate Manager Stephen Gould represented Out & Equal in Rochester New York as part of the annual PRIDE celebrations .
. In May 2010 Out & Equal issued a public statement urging constituents to contact their United States House Representatives to proceed with the passage of ENDA. During the 2010 San Francisco Pride Parade, Out & Equal provided signage to parade participants displaying support for ENDA.
policies. In February 2008, Out & Equal’s Executive Director, Selisse Berry wrote in an open letter to Congress and Nancy Pelosi
, "We believe that in these times of international crisis (and at all times), the military has a duty to recruit and retain the most qualified people, foster genuine teamwork, and set an example that ALL American citizens matter. We believe that Congress has a moral obligation to repeal policies that have prevented the military from achieving these goals."
(UAFA) which protects the rights of same-sex couples during the immigration process into the United States. In a partnership with organizations including The Council for Global Equality and Human Rights Watch
, Out & Equal’s Communications Project Manager, Stanley Ellicott publicly stated that onto an announcement stating, “An estimated 17,000 young children are being raised by LGBT parents in binational families and those children face the very real possibility of losing a parent, or leaving the only country they have ever called home .”
(August 2010), Target Corporation publicly called upon the Corporation’s continued financial sponsorship of Out & Equal’s Workplace Summit. Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel
emphasized Target’s relationship with Out & Equal in order to demonstrate the company’s commitment to LGBT Workplace equality .
Stanford University
lists Out & Equal as the leading organization for LGBT graduates to turn to for job placement advice .
Out & Equal has recently launched a series of editorials by diverse members of the LGBT community in order to recognize and celebrate the roles of other communities within the struggle for equality. The series, which started August 2010 is called "Communities in Common."
, Linkage
, National Center for Lesbian Rights
, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Out for Work, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
, Council for Global Equality, United ENDA, ENDA Now, NCTE
, Immigration Equality
and ReachOutUSA.
Out & Equal also partners with gay media organizations including Diversity Inc who highlighted the announcement of the 2010 Workplace Awards in August 2010 .
On August 5, 2010 The Bay Area Reporter included coverage of Target’s relationship with Out & Equal in a bay area report.
The August 2010 issues of “Erie Gay News” covered the Awards Ceremony finalists.
Out & Equal’s newest program is *LGBTCareerlink, an online career development portal serving diversity-friendly employers and the LGBT worforce alike.
Out & Equal published its first full length book in 2009, Allies at Work: Creating a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Inclusive Work Environment written by David M. Hall
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
headquartered in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates (commonly known as "Out & Equal") is a United States non-profit lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality organization headquartered in San Francisco, California.
Out & Equal achieved 501(c)(3) status in 2004, after years as a program of the United Way of the Bay Area. UWBA hired Selisse Berry (Out & Equal’s founding executive director) in December 1996 as director of the Building Bridges
Building Bridges
Building Bridges is the title of the third solo album by the Christian singer-songwriter Paul Field.-Side one:# "Rescued for a Reason" # "Building Bridges" # "Return to Love"...
training program.
Out & Equal describes its organizational vision as, “To achieve workplace equality for all regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, or characteristics .” In addition, Out & Equal provides training and sensitivity resources to LGBT employees and corporations alike through advocacy, training programs and events.
Mission
Out & Equal's mission is to “educate and empower organizations, human resource professionals, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and individual employees through programs and services that result in equal policies, opportunities, practices, and benefits in the workplace regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, or characteristics”.History
Selisse Berry, founding executive director of Out & Equal was hired in December 1996 as director of the Building Bridges training program. Berry ran the program and built coalitions as a single-person staff working out of the Pacific Center in Berkeley, California, and by September 1997 she moved into the United Way Bay Area (UWBA) offices in San Francisco.The Building Bridges program worked under the United Way Bay Area and developed partnership with fellow LGBT organizations around the Bay Area.
By 1998, three LGBT workplace organizations merged in an effort to effectively collaborate on their common mission of creating safe and affirming workplaces for LGBT individuals—called the Pride Collaborative. These organizations included Building Bridges, A Group of Groups (AGOG), and Progress.
In 1999 The Pride Collaborative merged with COLLEAGUES, a national organization that sponsored the annual Out & Equal Summit aimed at human resource professionals and LGBT employees, to form Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, and the current organizational structure was born. That same year, Progress’s Leadership Summit and COLLEAGUES’ Out & Equal Conference combined resources to produce the annual Out & Equal Workplace Summit, one of the keystone programs of the organization.
In January 2004, after years of being supported by the United Way of the Bay Area, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates became an independent 501 [c] 3 organization.
Workplace Summit
Out & Equal annually holds a training event called the “Workplace Summit” in rotating locations around the United States. The Workplace Summit hosts thousands of LGBT employees, human resource professionals and organizational representatives each year for a few days of training and networking. The Workplace Summit includes the Workplace Awards—“The OutiesThe Outies
The Outies - formally known as the Out & Equal Workplace Awards - is an annual awards gala hosted by Out & Equal Workplace Advocates. The Outies honor individuals and organizations that are leaders in advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees in America’s workplaces...
”—an award ceremony aimed at recognizing leaders in LGBT workplace equality.
Out & Equal’s Workplace Summit is considered to be appropriate for federal training in compliance with 5 U.S.C. Chapter 41. As proclaimed by Human Resources Director John Berry
John Berry
Sir John Berry was an English naval officer of the Royal Navy, and was in 1675 the captain of the annual convoy to Newfoundland that took place during the years of the colony's founding....
on August 6, 2010, the Out & Equal Workplace Summit is open to all federal employees.
2000:
2001:
2002:
2003:
2004:
2005:
2006:
2007: Washington, DC
2008: Austin, TX
The 2009 Workplace Summit was held in Orlando, Florida and the 2010 Workplace Summit was held on October 5-8 at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles Convention Center
The Los Angeles Convention Center is a convention center in the southwest portion of downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show and Anime Expo, and is best known to video games fans as host to E3...
. It was announced that the 2011 summit will be held in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
Executive Forum
The Executive Forum is a meeting of executive leaders in a multi-day conference to “learn from one another and share best practices.” The first Executive Forum was held in 2008 in San Francisco and the most recent (2010) Executive Forum was held in New York City.Training
Out & Equal offers diversity training, educational resources and consulting services to senior management, human resource professionals, employee resource groups and individual employees to promote LGBT workplace equality. Out & Equal training programs include “Train the Trainer,” “Building Bridges,” “LGBT Diversity Training,” and “Transgender Intensive.”The Out & Equal Town Call speaker series feature of monthly telephone conference calls with guest speakers discussing LGBT workplace topics. Each call includes a presentation followed by a question and answer session in a one-hour time frame. Town Calls are free for the public and are built to fit into a regular workday.
Regional Affiliates
Out & Equal maintains relationships with many Regional Affiliates throughout the United States. These Regional Affiliates provide knowledge, training and networking to LGBT professionals in locations around the country. Currently, Out & Equal Regional Affiliates include: ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Atlanta, Chicagoland
Chicagoland
The Chicago metropolitan area, or Chicagoland as it is commonly called within the area, is the metropolitan area associated with the city of Chicago, Illinois and its suburbs. It is the area that is closely linked to the city through social, economic, and cultural ties...
, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
, Metro New York, NY Finger Lakes, Philadelphia, Portland/SW Washington, Rocky Mountain, San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
, Seattle, Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, St. Louis, Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
and Washington, D.C.
In July 2010, Out & Equal’s Associate Director of NETWORKS and Regional Affiliate Manager Stephen Gould represented Out & Equal in Rochester New York as part of the annual PRIDE celebrations .
LGBT CareerLink
Out & Equal works to fulfill the organization’s mission to create a more equitable workplace for all through a variety of resources including LGBTCareerLink. LGBTCareerLink was launched in November 2008 and serves as a job search engine and professional networking website, designed to expand members’ career-building networks by connecting them to other job seekers as well as employment recruiters. LGBTCareerLink allows users to upload job ads, articles and tips, as well as other career-building resources .ENDA
As a workplace equality advocacy organization, Out & Equal has publicly supported the passage of ENDAEnda
-People:*Enda of Aran, Irish saint*Enda Colleran , Irish sportsman*Enda Kenny , Irish politician*Enda Markey , Irish/Australian singer and actor*Enda McCallion , Irish film director...
. In May 2010 Out & Equal issued a public statement urging constituents to contact their United States House Representatives to proceed with the passage of ENDA. During the 2010 San Francisco Pride Parade, Out & Equal provided signage to parade participants displaying support for ENDA.
DADT
Considering the military a workplace, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates has taken a stance against the Don't Ask, Don't TellDon't ask, don't tell
"Don't ask, don't tell" was the official United States policy on homosexuals serving in the military from December 21, 1993 to September 20, 2011. The policy prohibited military personnel from discriminating against or harassing closeted homosexual or bisexual service members or applicants, while...
policies. In February 2008, Out & Equal’s Executive Director, Selisse Berry wrote in an open letter to Congress and Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi is the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and served as the 60th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011...
, "We believe that in these times of international crisis (and at all times), the military has a duty to recruit and retain the most qualified people, foster genuine teamwork, and set an example that ALL American citizens matter. We believe that Congress has a moral obligation to repeal policies that have prevented the military from achieving these goals."
Marriage Equality
In 2010, Out & Equal’s leadership initiated a strategic plan to incorporate the “Business Case for Marriage Equality” into both the 2010 Workplace Summit and the organization’s overall work. Out & Equal’s website explains that, “Although marriage equality is regularly debated in the media, the corporate voice is largely silent .” Ongoing research will continue within Out & Equal on the subject of marriage equality and findings will be supported at the October 8th “Marriage Equality Breakfast” at the Los Angeles Convention Center.Immigration
In light of recent national outcry for immigration reform, Out & Equal joined a coalition of LGBT organizations around the United States in a public statement to support the Uniting American Families ActUniting American Families Act
The Uniting American Families Act is a U.S. bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate discrimination in the immigration laws by permitting permanent partners of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the same manner...
(UAFA) which protects the rights of same-sex couples during the immigration process into the United States. In a partnership with organizations including The Council for Global Equality and Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
, Out & Equal’s Communications Project Manager, Stanley Ellicott publicly stated that onto an announcement stating, “An estimated 17,000 young children are being raised by LGBT parents in binational families and those children face the very real possibility of losing a parent, or leaving the only country they have ever called home .”
Other
In response to public backlash to Target Corporation’s large political donation to anti-gay Republican politician Tom EmmerTom Emmer
Thomas Earl "Tom" Emmer, Jr. was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 until 2011 and the Republican nominee for governor in the 2010 election. He represented District 19B, which includes portions of Wright and Hennepin Counties and the cities of Otsego, Albertville, St....
(August 2010), Target Corporation publicly called upon the Corporation’s continued financial sponsorship of Out & Equal’s Workplace Summit. Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel
Gregg Steinhafel
Gregg Steinhafel is the President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Target Corporation. Gregg Steinhafel became CEO of Target Corp. in 2008. Steinhafel has been the company's president since 1999, and has been with the company since 1979....
emphasized Target’s relationship with Out & Equal in order to demonstrate the company’s commitment to LGBT Workplace equality .
Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
lists Out & Equal as the leading organization for LGBT graduates to turn to for job placement advice .
Out & Equal has recently launched a series of editorials by diverse members of the LGBT community in order to recognize and celebrate the roles of other communities within the struggle for equality. The series, which started August 2010 is called "Communities in Common."
Awards and Recognitions
On October 8, 2010 Out & Equal was recognized by GLSEN for outstanding leadership in LGBT rights at the Respect Awards in Los Angeles, California .Related Organizations
Out & Equal partners with a variety of organizations to promote LGBT workplace equality. To date, some key partners include Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, International Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, Human Rights CampaignHuman Rights Campaign
The Human Rights Campaign is the United States' largest LGBT advocacy group and lobbying organization; according to the HRC, it has more than one million members and supporters...
, Linkage
Linkage
Linkage generally means "the manner or style of being united", and can refer to:*Genetic linkage, the tendency of certain genes to be inherited together*Flux linkage, the total flux passing through a surface formed by a closed conducting loop...
, National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Lesbian Rights
The National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national non-profit, public interest law firm that advocates for equitable public policies affecting the LGBT community, provides free legal assistance to LGBT clients and their legal advocates, and conducts community education on LGBT legal issues. It...
, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, Out for Work, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays is a socio-political group of family members and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Its mission statement describes the goals of PFLAG as promoting health and well being of LGBT persons as well as actively supporting...
, Council for Global Equality, United ENDA, ENDA Now, NCTE
NCTE
NCTE may refer to:* The National Center for Transgender Equality* The US-based National Council of Teachers of English* The National Centre for Technology in Education, an Irish Government agency...
, Immigration Equality
Immigration Equality
Immigration Equality is an American advocacy organization working for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and HIV-positive individuals under the policies of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services...
and ReachOutUSA.
Out & Equal also partners with gay media organizations including Diversity Inc who highlighted the announcement of the 2010 Workplace Awards in August 2010 .
Media
On August 13, 2010 The Workplace Awards were mentioned on the Coloradan blog, “MileHighGayGuy”—known as, “Denver’s premier gay blog .”On August 5, 2010 The Bay Area Reporter included coverage of Target’s relationship with Out & Equal in a bay area report.
The August 2010 issues of “Erie Gay News” covered the Awards Ceremony finalists.
Out & Equal’s newest program is *LGBTCareerlink, an online career development portal serving diversity-friendly employers and the LGBT worforce alike.
Out & Equal published its first full length book in 2009, Allies at Work: Creating a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Inclusive Work Environment written by David M. Hall
David M. Hall
David M. Hall is a writer and corporate trainer. Hall is most notable for his book, Allies at Work: Creating a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Inclusive Work Environment. Lisa Sherman, Vice President of Logo , has said that "Allies at Work should be required reading for every corporate...
.
See also
- LGBT rights in the United States
- List of LGBT rights organizations
External links
- Out & Equal — official website
- Out & Equal's newest program linking diversity friendly employers with top LGBT talent-Out & Equal's LGBTCareerlink