About Out & Equal Southern California

Out & Equal Southern California was organized in June 2007 by a dedicated group of individuals in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. This affiliate serves these, as well as Ventura, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties in Southern California.

Mission Statement
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates Southern California educates and empowers individuals, employee resource and affinity groups, HR professionals, corporate executives and organizations 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. With a focus on business success, we promote and advocate for LGBT advancement and leadership for the individual - in the workplace and in society.

2009 Goals:
• Work to increase the visibility of LGBT employees within our companies and our community. We want other LGBT employees to feel safe, free and motivated to be open and out at work.
• Link LGBT Employee Resource Groups and Affinity Groups in Southern California on leadership, workplace and HR related issues.
• Support the inclusion and engagement of LGBT employees in our companies.
• Empower and educate the wider community on relevant LGBT issues in the workplace.
• Drive and create political impact in the larger business and social community.
• Provide role models and mentorship to current and future LGBT employees/professionals.
• Build a representative Leadership Council and membership base that reflects the diversity of the LGBT community in Southern California in terms of race, ethnicity, age cohort, gender identity, sexual orientation and geography.

Out & Equal Southern California Leadership Council

Co-Chairs
Judy Jbara, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
Garth Steever, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts

Treasurer
Matthew Steiger, BNY Mellon

Council Members
Reta Anderson-Applegren, Boeing
Lyn Diaz, Paul Hastings
Justin Hesketh, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Sam Morales, Deutsche Bank
Ronora Sayaman, KPMG LLP
Steve Simon, Kaiser Permanente

Advisory Committee
Jason Mannino, Jason Mannino & Associates
Lisa Mazzola, Wells Fargo
Peter Theodore, Alliant International University

ERG Leader Forum
American Cancer Society - Anheuser Busch - BNY Mellon - Boeing - Deloitte - Deutsche Bank - Disney - Ernst & Young - Google - Intuit - Kaiser Permanente - KPMG - NBC Universal - Northrop Grumman - Northwestern Mutual - Paul Hastings - PricewaterhouseCoopers - Raytheon - Southern California Edison - Toyota - Wachovia - Wells Fargo - Yahoo