What is Workplace Summit?
Workplace Summit is the world’s largest gathering of LGBTQ+ and allied professionals committed to building workplaces of belonging. Each year, thousands of executives, ERG leaders, inclusion and HR professionals, talent strategists, and changemakers come together for an experience that informs, inspires, and ignites action.
For nearly three decades, Out & Equal has hosted this landmark event to advance LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion delivering high-impact programming, meaningful networking, and the business strategies that shape the future of work.
What Makes Summit Special?
In a rapidly shifting workplace and social landscape, Summit is where clarity, strategy, and community come together. Whether you’re driving change from the boardroom or building power from your ERG, Summit equips you to return to your workplace ready to lead boldly.

Gain actionable strategies to advance inclusion and belonging at every level of your organization.

Deepen your leadership skills through powerful learning experiences tailored to emerging and seasoned leaders.

Build lasting relationships with peers, mentors, and collaborators across industries.

Explore the cutting edge of talent, brand, policy, and innovation in over 100 dynamic sessions.

Celebrate with intention, connection, and joy in a space where your experience and impact are valued.
Workplace Summit Highlights

Talent Networking
Recruiting meets community in the Engagement Center. Attendees network directly with employers in a vibrant networking space.

Leadership Lab Day
A full pre-conference day focused on immersive cohort learning on with topics that include:
- LGBTQ+ ERG Impact
- Shattering the Lavender Ceiling
- Personal Power for Changemakers
- Navigating Policy & Corporate Strategy

Dynamic
Learning Tracks
Over 100 sessions including Premier Workshops, Featured Sessions, and Interactive Roundtables that explore themes like:
- Belonging at Work
- ERG Best Practicecs
- Public Policy Alignment
- Inclusive Talent Development
- Workplace Changemaking

Inspiring Plenary Experiences
High-impact mainstage sessions that feature global thought leaders, celebrity artists, meaningful conversations that leave a lasting impact, Outie Award winners, and more — each moment designed to inform and inspire.

Celebration
Moments that celebrate our collective commitment to workplace inclusion, that include annual Outie Award recognition, warm receptions designed to thank our valued Partners and an unforgettable evening celebrating queer joy in the Engagement Center. Summit is a gathering of Pride, purpose, and shared joy.

In 2025, our event theme, &We Rise. Together. Forward. Now., centered around meeting the moment with determination and we continued our mission to build the inclusive workplace of the future.
The LGBTQ+ movement has been shaped by challenge and victory, fear and hope, grief and joy, loss and endurance.
With intensifying policy threats and harmful rhetoric, we drew strength from those who came before us—who dreamed of being out and equal in a world that told them it wasn’t possible. Their courage transformed our workplaces and communities and paved the way for us to be here, together.
Now, it’s our turn to rise.
We rise by gathering in community.
We rise by telling the truth — about what’s hard and what must change.
We rise by tapping into joy, anger, resilience, and light.
We rise by remembering our past and recommitting to our future.
Why? Because this movement and this community demand it.
Together is how we rise — in purpose and in pride.
We move forward, carrying the lessons of our past and the urgency of this moment.
The moment for action, for courage, for change is now.
Download the 2025 Workplace Summit Impact Report
Don’t miss the 2026 Out & Equal Workplace Summit
Get more information about joining the Out & Equal Partner community or attending next year’s event.







