Overview

We are now receiving "Outie" Award Nominations for the 2012 Out & Equal Workplace Summit!

The Out & Equal Workplace Awards (popularly referred to as “The Outies”) honor individuals and organizations that are leaders in advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees in America’s workplaces. Through these awards, Out & Equal provides the business and LGBT communities with examples of innovative approaches and proven successes to help create safe and equitable workplaces. Awards will be distributed at the annual Summit during plenary sessions.

Please view the 2012 Outie! Call for Nominations Guide for detailed information on the award nomination process.

Out & Equal accepts annual nominations in threecategories; one award recognizing individuals and two recognize organizations:

Individual Awards

Trailblazer Award
This award recognizes an LGBT person who has made a significant contribution to advancing workplace equality. This individual’s activities will have made a marked improvement in their own workplace and/or have contributed to equality nationally.

Champion Award
This award recognizes a non-LGBT person who has played a pivotal role in championing equal treatment of LGBT employees on the job. This individual will have shown a unique commitment to LGBT workplace rights and will have used his or her talents to further that cause, even at some risk.

Organizational Awards

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Employee Resource Group of the Year
This award recognizes a particular employee resource group (ERG), sometimes referred to as a business group or network that has a proven track record of success in advocating for LGBT equal rights in its own workplace.

Workplace Excellence
This award recognizes any employer that has an historic and ongoing commitment to pursuing and executing workplace equality for LGBT employees in their own workplace. This employer has a history of continually raising the bar of workplace equality for others to follow.

How to Submit an Award Nomination:

For the second year we will be using the Proposal Space platform for submitting award nominations. You will need to sign up for a Proposal Space account to begin your nomination, which must be completed and submitted by April 30, 2012.

Proposal Space allows users to:

  • Create an account, log in, and make edits to their personal information as well as the proposal content
  • Continuously update nomination form until the time it is submitted
  • Monitor nomination submission deadlines as well as the time frame of the review period, selection period, and notification dates

Follow these simple instructions to begin your 2012 Outie Award Nomination:

  • Create a Proposal Space account for free or use your existing Proposal Space account (this will allow you to log on later to return to your proposal)
  • Under Active Calls find the appropriate nomination form and begin your nomination.
  • Complete the Content
  • Complete the Primary Contact information
  • Once every required field is completed, you will be able to submit your nomination

All award nominations must be completed submitted by April 30, 2012.

Please view the 2012 Outie! Call for Nominations Guide for detailed information on the award nomination process.

Selection Process

All Outie nominations are read by an awards committee, which narrows the nominations down to four or five finalists in each award category. A panel of distinguished judges ultimately decides which individuals and organization will receive Outies. Awards Committee members and judges change each year and are expected to opt out of voting if their own affiliations may bias their votes.

Contact Deputy Director Kevin Jones at 415-694-6536 if you have any questions about the awards process.