Baltimore to welcome Out & Equal

On Monday, the Maryland Corporate Council will host an event in partnership with the Out & Equal summit in Baltimore. (Photo courtesy Out & Equal)

Baltimore will host the annual Out & Equal Workplace Advocates Summit next week. The event will take place Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at the Baltimore Convention Center. Out & Equal is committed to creating safe and equitable workplace environments for LGBT employees. The 2012 summit is sponsored by 118 corporations, non-profit organizations and government agencies.

At the summit, individuals, human resources professionals, diversity managers, employee resource group leaders and allies will have a platform from which to make connections, share best practices, and formulate a strategy that allows for a demonstration of their commitment to equality in the workplace.

There will be daylong leadership seminars on Monday prior to the primary conference.  Spaces are still available for those seminars, and onsite registration will begin on Monday at 7 a.m.

Also on Monday, the Maryland Corporate Council (MCC) will host an event in partnership with the summit, which will provide an opportunity to network with LGBTA business and community leaders. It will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Pratt Street lobby of the Convention Center. This is free to MCC members and guests. To register, visit marylandcorporate.org.

A three-day registration package includes: entrance to the Welcome Reception; six workshop sessions, with approximately 20 workshop options per session; two plenaries, with meals (one breakfast, one lunch); access to the Night Out Networking events; and one ticket to the Gala Awards Plenary Reception and Dinner. There are flexible registration options for guests who wish to attend only a day of the conference, rather than attend the full program.

Stanley Ellicott, a spokesperson for the Summit, told the Blade, “We are excited to welcome a diverse group of celebrities, journalists and activists who will deliver keynote speeches.” They include: Selisse Berry, Out & Equal founding executive director; Benjamin Jealous, president and CEO of the NAACP; Judy Shepard, activist and mother of slain gay student Matthew Shepard; Tammy Smith, Brigadier General, U.S. Army; Beth Brooke, global vice chair of public policy, Ernst & Young; and Vladi Luxuria, former member of Parliament, Italy.

For more information about the Summit, call 415-694-6500 or visit outandequal.org/summit-2012.