Archives

Past Town Calls (2012)

Past Town Calls (2011)

 

Additional Town Call Archives (2007-2010)

 

Submitting RFPs for 2012 Out & Equal Workshops

Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern

In 2012, Out & Equal will be hosting our annual Workplace Summit in Baltimore, MD from Oct 29- Nov 1.  We will also be working with other global organizations to host the first Global Workplace Summit in London, England on July 5-6. The core of both of these events is the workshops and featured panels. The educational component of Out & Equal programming is one of the key value added reasons come to the Summit.  This year we will be starting the process of selecting those workshops earlier and this call will provide you the tools you need to submit a Request for Proposal (RFP) for workshops.  We will have more specific tracks for workshops and will be looking for more advanced topics for those who are returning to the Summit.  There will also be a summary of presenter evaluations and lessons learned from 2011 as well as a complete timeline for workshop submittals.  Please join this call to get all the details as we build toward our 2012 Summits!

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2010 Census and LGBT Workplace Equality:  What is the Connection?

Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern

What if you could prove to marketing that there were LGBT customers in all your markets? How about demonstrating the need for expanded benefits for LGBT partners who might be raising children or dealing with aging or disabled partners? The 2010 Census is history and was the first that counts both same-sex partners and same-sex spouses. Although, still not counting the "T" or single LGB citizens, the data can help you build your business case by adding LGBT metrics and trends to your strategic programming and community outreach programs. It also adds to the discussion on global relocations within a company when you realize that there are an estimated 28,500 binational same-sex couples and nearly 11,500 same-sex couples in which neither partner is a U.S. citizen. What does your company do to protect these employees? 

The Williams Institute has compiled the 2010 census data and has been reporting the results over the last months. Our first  Town Call of 2012 will provide you with an in-depth look at the differences since the 2000 census, what we have discovered about LGBT couples in the 2010 census and what's next as we plan for the 2020 census. We will also discuss the use of the census data to impact your work toward LGBT equality. Join us to build the connections and kick off 2012!

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Download the slides! [PDF]

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2012 Out & Equal Workplace Summit Kickoff

Thursday, Feb 9, 2012 - Noon Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

This year Out & Equal will be doing two Summits.  Our Annual Workplace Summit will be October 29-November 1 in Baltimore, MD and our inaugural Global Workplace Summit will be July 5-6 in London, England as we partner with LGBT workplace organizations around the world.  This call will provide you with an overview of both events so you can begin your planning to attend.  Last month we talked about the workshop RFP process but now you can gather the information you need to take back to your management so you can attend the 2012 Summits. In addition to all the event details, this call will also feature:

Workplace Award Nominations

This webinar will provide insights into the screening committee's perspective and criteria for honoring innovative approaches and proven successes, as well as hear from what past winners accomplished in their quest for equality that set them apart from other nominees. We will go through the submittal and review process that will make submitting nominations easier and faster for you.
Be sure to bring your questions and ideas for making 2012 an incredible year for LGBT workplace equality!

Watch our podcast!

Download the presentation slides! [pdf]

Download the audio recording [mp3]

 

 

Coaching: What it is, what it is not, & why every LGBT leader can benefit from working with a Coach!

Thursday, February 23, 2012 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern

More often than ever before, you’re probably hearing about coaching. But maybe you assumed it is only available or useful for just the leaders at the highest levels of the organization? Think again!

Coaching is increasingly popular at all levels of the corporate world as a proven tool that can help you transform your own leadership capabilities and propel your career to new heights, wherever you are on your career path. Many employers now pay for coaching to help employees at many levels as part of leader development plans. Coaching is convenient, often done by phone, online video conferencing, or face to face.  Coaching can be individual, one-on-one, or in small groups. (Coaching rocks!)
So what exactly is coaching?  Also, how can coaching be materially different or especially useful for a professional who identifies as LGBT?  And, if the idea of working with a coach intrigues you, what are next steps? This Town Call will focus on these questions and more. Three professional executive coaches who identify as lesbian or gay will reprise some of the high points of their well-attended workshops at the 2011 Summit in Dallas.

On the Town Call, you will learn about:

  • What coaching is (and is not!)
  • How coaching differs from mentoring, counseling, therapy, or training
  • What to expect during a typical coaching session
  • What coaching focus is best for you? (e.g. executive, leadership, life, or highly specialized)
  • How coaching may especially benefit LGBT folks with career enhancement
  • How to find your perfect coach (hint: you may want a coach who is also LGBT!)


Want more? This spring, a three-session Out & Equal University webinar about coaching is scheduled, expanding on all the above and more, plus optional coaching packages at special O&EU rates! 

 

Watch our podcast!

Download the presentation slides [pdf]

Download the audio recording [mp3]

 

Leveraging LGBT Marketing Data to Build Your Business Case!

Thursday, March 29 2012 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern

Why is it so important to understand the LGBT community?  It’s a simple case of economics!  Research data is showing that the LGBT consumers are the latest emerging market and that companies are looking at their growing disposable income, brand loyalty and product needs as they grow their marketing efforts. What does your web site look like in terms of LGBT visibility and how can you leverage image and content to attract LGBT consumers and employees. This call will bring together the best practices and current data regarding marketing. Finding out how to reach out in marketing means the company needs to understand the workplace and climate for their LGBT employees if they are going to credible advertisers in the LGBT community. Using these lessons learned, you can start a new program or grow an existing program and make a difference for LGBT workplace equality. Join us with your experiences and ideas!

 

Download the presentation slides [pdf]

Part 1: Watch our podcast!

Download the audio recording [mp3]

Part 2: Watch our podcast!

Download the recording [mp3]

 

 

Tax Equity from Theory to Reality! 

Thursday, April 26 2012 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern

The buzz in LGBT workplace equality these days is tax equity. Companies are taking the next steps to provide for full benefit packages for their LGBT employees in the absence of federal protections. Tax equity address disparities in how an employee pays for the family health insurance. For opposite sex married couples and families, the insurance payments come out of their paycheck before before taxes. For LGBT employees, because of federal laws, that insurance payment comes out of their check after taxes which increase the taxes the employee and companies pay. Find how companies can create a way to mitigate this cost for the employee. Todd Solomon will begin the call by looking at the theory, legal aspects and best practices on how to implement tax equity programs in the workplace. Then we will see how Google made it work and was able to implement tax equity and join the growing ranks of companies striving to stay competitive and retain their LGBT employees.

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Download the presentation slides [pdf]

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What's the buzz about the CEI?


 Thursday, January 27, 2011 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

Work for a Fortune 500 corporation?  Do you know what your Corporate Equality Index (CEI) score regarding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) policies and benefits in your workplace?  Interested in starting a Diversity program for LGBT employees in your business but not sure what the criteria should be?  Join Deena Fidas from the Human Rights Campaign as she gives you all the information about the CEI during this month's town call.  More importantly, she can help you sort out the requirements for the new CEI 3.0 that will add new criteria to existing ratings.  Be sure you know what you need to do to keep or achieve that 100% score by being a part of our first 2011 Town Call.

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International Town Call - China

Thursday, January 20, 2011 - 6:00pm Pacific Time (Friday, January 21, 2011 - 10:00am Taiwan)
7:00pm Mountain | 8:00pm Central | 9:00pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

On Thursday, January 20, 2011, Out & Equal will continue its International Town Call series at 6:00pm Pacific with a focus on the workplace in China. This call will focus on greater China - mainlaind China, Hong Kong and Taiwan-- and will provide a perspective on corporations based in China. 

The webinar will look at what it means to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) from a cultural and legal perspective and what the climate is for LGBT employees. It will also provide perspectives on what corporations are doing to change the workplace. 

The International Town Call series takes place 2-4 times annually, with each call dedicated to the LGBT workplace experience in a specific country or region. Employees with experience working in China or who represent companies with a presence in the country are especially invited to attend.

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Download the presentation [PDF]

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2011 Out & Equal Workplace Award Nominations &
Summit Workshop Proposals

Thursday, February 24, 2011 - Noon Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

Workplace Award Nominations
    
The Out & Equal Workplace Awards (commonly referred to as "The Outies") honor individuals and organizations that are leaders in advancing equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees in 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. The awards are presented annually at the Out & Equal Workplace Summit, the nation's preeminent conference addressing LGBT issues in the workplace.
   
This webinar will provide insights into the screening committee's perspective and criteria for honoring innovative approaches and proven successes, as well as hear from what past winners accomplished in their quest for equality that set them apart from other nominees. We will also be describing a new platform for the workshop proposal submission and approval process that will make the experience of submitting and finalizing workshops much easier.

   
Call for 2011 Workplace Awards will be posted to our web site, www.OutandEqual.org, at least one week prior to the Town Call.  
   
The deadline for 2011 Workplace Award Nominations is April 30, 2011. 

Workplace Summit Workshop Proposals
  
Out & Equal's annual Summit offers the chance to unite and share the information needed to advance LGBT workplace equality. Now more than ever, Out & Equal workshops are invaluable tools to keep pace with the multitude of changes happening around us and in the workplace.
 
This webinar will explore the 2011 Workplace Summit workshop submittal process, as well as introduce the core concepts that will be addressed during this year's Summit in Dallas.
   
Why Present a Workshop?

•    Teach and interact with hundreds of workplace leaders from around the nation and the world, representing dozens of top companies and organizations
•    Showcase your organization's best practices
•    Be recognized as a leader in advancing workplace equality
•    Receive a discounted three-day Summit registration

Request for proposals for the 2010 Workplace Summit workshops will be posted to our web site, www.OutandEqual.org, at lease one week prior to the Town Call. 
   
The deadline for 2011 Workplace Summit Workshop Proposals is April 29, 2011. 
   
This webinar will provide you with some great and timely guidance, and is open to all. It is recommended for people and organizations with a record of support for LGBT workplace equality.

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Download the presentation [pdf]

Download the audio recoding [mp3]

Our Communities, Our Careers and Our Families: Being an LGBT Parent in the Workplace

Thursday, March 31, 2011 - Noon Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

We talk about our workplace lives and the changes we want to see in terms of benefits and policies.  When we have partners and children, our stories as working parents are not different than those of our straight colleagues.  Being a parent who is also lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, however, has aspects unique to our community.  Our panel of LGBT parents will discuss how they experience the workplace and what are some of the lessons they have learned along the way.  This workshop will also provide an update on the current state of the Defense of Marriage Act repeal and looking at all our families on a global perspective.  This panel was presented at the 2010 Out & Equal Summit and provides attendees with a chance to attend our virtual Summit presentations.

Watch our podcast!

Download the presentation [PDF]

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Bisexuals at Work: Update on Global Survey Data

Thursday, April 28, 2011 - Noon Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

What do you know about bisexual employees in your company?  Do they have the same issues as lesbian and gay  or heterosexuals, or are their issues different from both groups?  We know that only a small fraction of bisexuals in our companies are involved with LGBT Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).  What do bisexual people have to say to ERGs and to company management about creating a more bi-friendly environment?  A comprehensive international survey was launched in June 2010 and the emerging data yields an exciting look at the most elusive letter of our alphabet soup.  Join the survey's principal investigators to learn about everything you always wanted to know about bisexuals at work but were afraid to ask.  This panel was presented at the 2010 Out & Equal Summit and provides attendees with a chance to attend our virtual Summit presentations.

 

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Download the presentation [pdf]

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Results of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey

 

Thursday, May 26, 2011 - Noon Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

Every day, transgender and gender non-conforming people bear the brunt of social and economic marginalization due to their gender identity and expression. The struggle for fairness has too often been held up because of the lack of hard data on the scope of discrimination they face.  Two years ago, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (The Task Force) formed a ground-breaking research partnership to address this problem by launching the first comprehensive national transgender discrimination study!  From employment and education, to ID documents, to family life, this town call will review the compelling results with a focus on how to integrate this data into metrics you can use to advance transgender rights in the workplace.

 

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Making Self-ID a Reality


Thursday, June 30, 2011 - Noon Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Voluntary Self Identification (Self ID) is becoming a standard for evaluating if a company is working toward LGBT equality in the workplace.  Since 2007, the Corporate Equality Index (CEI) has included data Self ID.  First as an emerging trend in in 2007, 17% of the companies reporting were using anonymous surveys to allow LGBT employees to self-identity.  By 2011, Self ID was a criterion in the CEI with 35% of the companies using surveys or HR Records to track LGBT employees.  The new CEI 3.0 will also include Self-ID under Organizational LGBT Competency.  Join this town call that will provide the latest updates from the LGBT Self ID Community of Practice but also provide insights into how companies have moved based the theory into reality.

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Download the presentation [pdf]

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LGBT Refugees

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 12:00pm Pacific
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost | Online webinar

Imagine every day facing death threats and the possibility of torture because you are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT).  Tragically, violence still happens to LGBT people here in the United States, but it is far more frequent in countries where the state has made it a policy to target or eliminate LGBT people. Some of those people are lucky enough to escape and seek asylum in other countries.

What would happen to your life if you suddenly have to leave everything you knew, including your family and your job, and find yourself in a country you may have only read about in school?  Groups such as ORAM, the Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration, are beginning the work of building a global LGBT perspective that includes the needs and perspectives of LGBT refugees.  ORAM is the only international nongovernmental organization focusing exclusively on refugees and asylum seekers fleeing sexual and gender-based violence.

Join this international town call to understand the scope of the LGBT Refugee issues and what corporations can do to provide support to those who have had to run for their lives just for being who they are.

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Download the presentation [pdf]

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The Business Case for Marriage Equality

Thursday, July 28, 2011 - Noon Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

A patchwork set of laws and protections impact same sex couples—and their employers— in the United States. A company may be able to consider all married employees equally in one state, accept domestic partner registrations in another, and be prohibited from recognizing same sex partners at all in a third. These differences in the rights accorded to same-sex couples can impact a company’s ability to recruit, retain, and relocate employees. It is very challenging to offer comparable compensation across jurisdictions and companies face a maze of complicated record keeping requirements.

Join us as we hear from a panel of legal and corporate experts discussing how corporations can address marriage equality—and live with the current inequalities. This presentation was one of the most informative workshops at the 2010 Out & Equal Workplace Summit and will provide valuable information your company on how to advance full equality for LGBT employees.

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Download the presentation [pdf]

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A View from the Top:  LGBT Executives

Thursday, August 25, 2011 - Noon Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

As LGBT employees, we look to senior management for leadership and guidance to create a safe and equal workplace. What a difference it would make if we saw ourselves at the top. LGBT senior executives are raising their voices and coming out. Their stories are like each of ours in every way and some of the things they have learned along the way can help each of us rise to our highest potential.

Join this call as we hear from senior LGBT executives on how they made it to the top and what they learned about bringing their whole selves to the workplace.

Watch our podcast!

Download the presentation [pdf]

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Business of Change

Thursday, September 29, 2011 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern

Mutually beneficial, sustainable and rewarding partnerships between nonprofits and corporations are those that are aligned in mission, vision and objectives. In 2009, the Gill Foundation and Weber Shandwick formed a unique social innovation partnership to develop a best-in-class resource guide for effective corporate-nonprofit collaborations aimed at promoting LGBT equality. The Business of Change guide was published on December of 2009 and distributed at no cost to thousands of nonprofits and corporate leaders across the country.

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, in collaboration with the Gill Foundation, is now launching the Business of Change website, a digital platform offering practical and actionable recommendations for nonprofits and corporations, citing concrete examples of successful partnerships—large and small.  Associated Business of Change social media sites—Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn—have also been created as venues in which participants can contribute, discuss, comment, and connect in real time.

Join us at this Town Call as we talk to nonprofit and corporate representatives about successful partnerships and collaborations, the steps they took to get there, and the advice they have for others. We’ll also introduce the Business of Change website and social media sites, and discuss how you can best use them.

Watch our podcast!

Download the presentation [pdf]

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Building an LGBT Supplier Diversity Program

Thursday, October 20, 2011 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern

Working toward an LGBT inclusive workplace now expands beyond the parent company and employees. The contractors and companies that work with your company can also be influenced by your work toward LGBT equality. Reviewing contractors to ensure they include sexual orientation and gender identity protections and benefits can show a corporation’s resolve to bring about change. Providing opportunities through the supplier diversity program at your company can also make a difference.

The NGLCC Supplier Diversity Initiative (SDI) offers businesses a tool to make connections and open doors with America's top corporations and each other. The SDI certifies Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender owned Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs) and works to provide opportunities for LGBTBEs to gain exposure within corporate procurement processes. This certification is established, recognized and can be implemented with minimal staffing on your part. Come learn about the program, see how the process works with corporate case studies and the how you can use LGBT Supplier Diversity to increase your competitive edge and support LGBT owned businesses around the world!

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2011 Out & Equal Annual Summit Roundup!

 

Thursday, November 10, 2010 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

We are talking more and more about metrics and using them to advance our LGBT workplace equality. If you attended the Summit, wanted to or are already making plans to attend in 2011, this town call provides the metrics and highlights of 2011 Out & Equal Workplace Summit. It is hard to explain the Summit experience but if you go, you know it is more than the sum of workshops, plenary speakers, sponsors and exhibitors. This is a great way to report back the value added on your attendance.  A trip report template with all the highlights is available after the Summit and this Town Call provides the chance to discuss your highlights for the 2011 Summit but to start getting ready for 2012.

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Inside LBGT: Being a Transgender Community Ally

Thursday, November 17, 2011 - Noon Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern
One hour in length | No cost

November 20th, 2011 is the 13th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (DoR) to commemorate those who have been killed as a result of being transgender or gender non-conforming over the last year. Since November 2010, 17 names have been added to the DoR site from all over the world. November is also Transgender Awareness Month.  Being aware of and working to support change for anyone who is transgender, including those issues facing transgender employees is an important step to advance LGBT workplace equality. What are you doing this year for Transgender Awareness Month?

Many people who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual have little experience with members of the transgender community. That lack of experience often translates into misunderstanding and exclusive behaviors within the LGBT community. Listen to lesbian, gay and bisexual allies of the transgender community share their perspectives and learn some tools for creating trans-inclusive spaces. This Town Call is part of our “Virtual Summit” that brings the best sessions from the 2011 Summit to our online programs.

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HIV/AIDS: Business Impact/Global Changes

Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 12 pm Pacific Time
1 pm Mountain | 2 pm Central | 3 pm Eastern

Nearly 30 years ago, our lives changed as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) were identified.  Around the world, survival was the exception and in the United States, many LGBT friends and leaders were lost. In many countries, HIV/AIDS also impacts many more than those who are in the LGBT community. Since 1988, World AIDS day on Dec 1 is set aside to remember those who we have lost to HIV/AIDS and to re-focus on the next steps toward controlling and eliminating HIV/AIDS.  This year, we use our December Town Call to take a look at the global steps being taken and how we create the business case when talking about HIV/AIDS employees.  

Treatments have improved and many employees are living long, productive lives and staying in the workforce. For many, the treatments are expensive and not available on a global basis, so companies look for ways to encourage prevention, early treatment and support for those who test positive. More and more employees are remaining in the workplace and corporations are looking at the next steps to ensure protections and accommodations for their employees. Join us this month as we remember and look forward. New emphasis on the global crisis includes new US policies to prevent the growth of HIV/AIDS and work to provide support around the world. There are also standards on the global and national level that provide for HIV/AIDS employees. Hear from the top policy leaders and those who work day to day to ensure that workplace equality includes all of us!

Watch our podcast!   

Download the presentation slides [pdf]

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