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In this Issue:
Yesterday, the Summit really got moving with our first day of workshops, speakers and events. George Takei, displaying a sense of humor and a passionate belief in diversity, opened things up during the breakfast plenary session. Takei, who many remember for his role as Mr. Sulu on the original Star Trek, discussed his reason for finally coming out in the press, his experiences as a Japanese American in the U.S. internment camps during World War II, and his career as an actor and activist.
Drawing upon examples from Star Trek, his life history, and American history, Takei compared the advance of LGBT civil rights to the struggles faced by Japanese Americans, African Americans, women, and other oppressed groups. "I can never forget that barbed wire fence that contained us," Takei said of his childhood years in an internment camp. "But I can still see invisible barbed wire around me, my partner, and many others." Takei condemn the unjust use of the U.S. Consitution or state constitutions to prevent same-gender marriage, among other unfair practices such as discrimination in the military. Takei called the LGBT civil rights movement "the greatest civil rights struggle of our generation." "Working together, we will boldly go where American has never gone before," Takei announced, "and the words 'liberty' and 'justice for all' will ring with truth and authenticity."
Showing great humor, Jacobson joked about being fired from Disney while her partner was in labor. "Who the hell wants words of professional wisdom from someone who couldn't even hold on to her own job? Well, apparently, Out & Equal did." Jacobson used the humor, though, to deliver two powerful messages. First, that being fired helped her realize that she had a life outside her career--as a mother and a spouse. "The point is, you should live your life in such a way that if you get fired, you have something better to do when you get home," said Jacobson. "Don't mistake your job for your identity, which is a very easy thing to do if you happen to be lucky enough to have a job that really means something to you." Jacobson also explained how being fired is yet another example in a long list of ways she has lived by her personal principals. Among these, her decision to be truthful about her sexual orientation in the workplace allowed her to be honest about her departure from Disney. "Being out also helped me figure out how to spin my firing," she explained, "which is not at all." Despite the urging of her lawyer and others to tell the press that she was leaving Disney to pursue independent film producing. Instead, she realized that being out has taught her how to always base her career on honesty, so she told the truth--that she loved Disney and was sad to be leaving. "The truth is easy, because it always comes out anyway." After each plenary speaker, Summit participants enjoyed workshops, browsing the Exhibition Hall, and attending various networking events. Thursday night wrapped with a fabulous Welcome Reception featuring great music by Zzaje, the divineMAGgees and side-splittingly hilarious entertainment from GayCo.
See the Kodak photo gallery for more exciting shots of the 2006 Out & Equal Workplace Summit.
Activities for Friday, September 15
We want to remind all Summit participants that smoking is not allowed in the exhibition hall, Summit workshop rooms, reception halls, or any other indoor Summit space. Look for designated smoking areas outside the hotel lobby. ROOM/TIME CHANGES WORKSHOP PRESENTER CHANGES During our Featured Session Straight Allies: Advancing Equality at Work and in the Community, held during session four in the Columbus I-L room, Deborah Bauer will replace Trisa Thompson on the panel and Daryl Pelc will replace Jayne Schnaars. We are delighted to announce that Rachel Goldman, Brad Salavich and Ben Hladilek have joined Riki Wilchins as presenters for the Gender and the Law workshops held during Sessions six and seven in the Columbus A-B rooms. There have been some changes to the line-up of presenters for Completing the Circle of Corporate Advocacy: What Your Company Needs to Know about LGBT Supplier Diversity, held in the Columbus H room during sessions six and seven. The speakers will be Lourdes Diaz from the NGLCC, Christine Crespo from Ernst & Young, Mark T. Ng from Wells Fargo, and John Berry from JPMorgan Chase. In the workshop Breaking Through the Lavender Ceiling, session seven in the Toronto room, Jim Huberty will no longer be presenting. Rita Lane and Jamison Green will join the presenter line-up for this workshop. OTHER UPDATES If you still need to pick up your Gala Awards Dinner tickets, please stop by Registration between noon and 6:00PM. Attention Exhibitors! Arrangements have been made for appropriate left-over give-away items to be donated to local charities. Please box and label all items and put them on designated tables at the entrance to the Exhibition Hall on Saturday. Spotlight: Out & Equal's Transgender Advisory Committee
In Out & Equal's continuing dedication to true workplace diversity and making sure that all members of our community attain equality, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates launched the Transgender Advisory Committee this year. The Transgender Advisory Committee, chaired by Rachel Parker, exists to provide input on ways to address the needs of the transgender community at the Summit. In addition to making programming recommendations for the Summit, evaluating the relevancy of existing materials, and providing leadership around these topics, the Transgender Advisory Committee will also provide year-round direction for Out & Equal's many programs. Transgender equality in the workplace has become a major topic among diversity and HR professionals in recent years. It's not wonder, with employees choosing to transition "on the job," more and more places moving to include "gender expression or identity" in their antidiscrimination policies, and difficult questions about genderqueers or others who reject any gender label. Recognizing that few resources have existed until recently for understanding transgender workplace equality, Out & Equal is pleased to present several opportunities for learning and understanding at the 2006 Workplace Summit. On Wednesday, the Pre-Summit Seminar Building Bridges Transgender: Speaker's Bureau Training combined Out & Equal's unique train-the-trainer diversity program with issues specific to human resource professionals and others who may need to make a one and a half hour presentation around transgender topics in the workplace. This afternoon, Andrea James and Calpernia Addams, co-founders of Deep Stealth Productions, a trans-owned production company in Hollywood, California, will be featured speakers during workshop session five. During their presentation, Transamerica: Adventures in Hollywood (and the Real World, Too), the pair will discuss their participation in the award-winning film starring Felicity Huffman and other endeavors to bring positive portrayals of transgender people into the world of media and entertainment. Following the Features Speakers, the Transgender Advisory Committee is hosting a reception for transgender people and friends from 5:00PM to 6:00PM in Columbus I-J. The reception will offer refreshments and a chance to mingle with the special guests and other people interested in promoting transgender equality. Throughout the Summit weekend, about a dozen workshops deal specifically with transgender topics, from understanding basic needs to more advanced courses such as writing policies around transition or providing health insurance coverage for transition procedures. Additionally, we have urged all workshop leaders to remember the "T" in their workshops and to focus on providing information that pertains to this community. Out & Equal is proud to be on the frontlines of the fight for total workplace equality, and invites you to help us achieve our goal of a world where Everyone Counts! Frustrated that there are too many good sessions to go to? Don't worry, you can purchase audio CDs of many sessions. Share the experience with your colleagues back home, or catch a session you couldn't attend. Place your orders by noon today and you can take your CDs with you on Saturday. HMR Duplications is located across from the Registration Counter. You can also place orders via email. Tonight is the Gala Awards Dinner. It's a formal affair, so be sure to check that your garments are dry cleaned and looking their best. Concurrently, the Silent Auction will be open to bidding from 5:30 PM to 9:00 PM in Columbus A-D. Bring your checkbook or credit cards (payment must be made and items claimed by midnight) to help support Out & Equal. We know it's going to be a late night tonight, but set your alarm clocks and ask for a wake-up call tomorrow, because we're kicking off our last morning with coffee and networking in the Exhibition Hall. Tell us how we did! After the Summit is over, we want you to provide feedback so that we can improve on the Workplace Summit in future years. Please fill out our post-Summit survey and help us improve. While you're in the survey mood, you could also help us assess the economic impact of the Summit. Please take a moment to fill out the Summit Spending Questionaire. If you have a tips or comment about the DAILY BULLETIN, email Communications Manager Jere Keys.
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Takei began by telling the assembled crowd how proud he was to be at the Out & Equal Workplace Summit. "It's important work, because the workplace is where we spend most of our lives," Takei said. "And what happens in the workplace sends ripples into the rest of society.
Our second plenary speaker, Nina Jacobson, has had a busy year. Six months ago, she was running one of the largest entertainment businesses in the world. Although she's no longer with Disney, her three children (including one newborn) have filled her life with purpose.
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