October 27, 2011— Five silver ‘Outie’ statuettes were bestowed upon
Outie Award winners this week, while over 2,500 Summit attendees
gathered at the Out & Equal Workplace Summit in Dallas, Texas.
LGBT employees and allies, along with human resources and diversity
professional, many representing Fortune 500 companies, attended the Out
& Equal Workplace Summit . The Summit is the nation’s leading LGBT
professional development conference. Individuals and companies from
across the nation are nominated for their demonstrated leadership and
diversity programs aimed at advancing fair, safe and equitable work
environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.
The winners were chosen from a competitive slate of nominees and voted
on by an independent panel of experts from companies and nonprofits that
set the standard for LGBT workplace equality. The award winners
represent the people and companies who are changing the face of our
culture by working to end LGBT discrimination in the workplace.
And the 2011 Out & Equal Outie Award winners are:
The Workplace Excellence Award recognizes an employer that has an
ongoing commitment to workplace equality, demonstrated by unquestioned
leadership, dedication and innovation on behalf of LGBT employees
everywhere. The winner is:
Accenture has driven the development of LGBT networks in nations such as
India, Mexico, and the Philippines, to expand Global LGBT network to
include 18 countries and 19 local US offices. Accenture has extended
their commitment to workplace equality by becoming one of nine companies
in the US to implement World Professional Association for Transgender
Health compliant transgender benefits, adding to the transgender
transition guidelines implemented last year.
The Trailblazer Award recognizes an LGBT person who has made a
significant contribution to advancing workplace equality by helping
improve their own workplace and contributing to equality for all. The
winner is:
Claudia is an incredible motivational speaker, she has reached an
audience of thousands and thousands members of the GLBT community, in-
and outside of IBM, to which she serves as a role-model and a mentor. As
a co-chair of the Global GLBT Council since 1996, she has been
personally involved in almost each and every initiative that serves the
GLBT population at IBM.
The Champion Award recognizes a non-LGBT person who has played a pivotal
role in advancing equal treatment of LGBT employees on the job. This
individual will have demonstrated a significant commitment to LGBT
workplace rights. The winner is:
Sophie continues to challenge Xerox to look beyond the numbers by
listening to the LGBT employees of Xerox and companies who participate
with Out & Equal. By learning first hand the issues of LGBT
employees, educating herself on the laws and policies, learning from
other companies, and spending quality time with the leadership of the
ERG GALAXe, she has enabled significant change at Xerox. She
demonstrates true leadership by leading authentically and accepting all
for who they are.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Employee Resource Group of the
Year Award recognizes a particular ERG, sometimes referred to as a
business group or network, with an exemplary track record of leadership
in advocating for LGBT equal rights over the past year. The winner is:
LGBT Pride has increased its international membership 112% (to nearly
3,400 members), which included significant growth in straight ally
membership. LGBT Pride leaders have engaged with the bank's
philanthropic leaders, market leaders and line of business leaders. LGBT
Pride has also focused its efforts externally, conducting over 100 LGBT
events internationally in 2010, which included over 20 events
supporting HIV/AIDS causes and 20 local pride celebrations across the
globe from Tokyo to San Francisco to London.
The Significant Achievement Award recognizes an employer that has made
recent significant strides in advancing a fair and equitable workplace
for its LGBT employees. The winner is:
This year, Google grossed up health benefits coverage for same-sex
domestic partners, offering an equivalent to the Family Medical Leave
Act for same-sex domestic partners and changing the definition of
infertility to expand fertility assistance. It also altered its systems
to recognize marriage as independent of the sex of the partners. LGBT
Benefits enhancements received recognition as one of the 15 Best HR
Ideas for 2011 by Human Resource Executive.
The Regional Affiliate of the Year honor is awarded to a regional
affiliate that has demonstrated commitment to the Out & Equal
mission through exceptional programming and sound organizational
practices. The winner is:
In 2008, the Board of Out & Equal announced a new award named in
honor of our Founding Executive Director, Selisse Berry. The Selisse
Berry Leadership Award recognizes an exceptional individual whose
visionary leadership, tireless efforts, and remarkable accomplishments
have been a critical contribution toward achieving LGBT workplace
equality. In addition to leading change in the world of employment, this
leader inspires countless individuals to champion the cause which is
our vision: Workplace equality for all inclusive of sexual orientation,
gender identity, expression, or characteristics. Unlike other Outie
awards which are chosen by an independent panel of judges, the Out &
Equal Board of Directors awards the Selisse Berry Leadership Award from
time to time to deserving individuals.