The future of LGBT workplace equality

On Monday night, Pride In My Workplace (PIMW) held its third and final Business Leaders for LGBT Equality Series workshop. The series highlighted how employees in New York are advancing workplace equality for the LGBT community. Held at Macy’s East, the panel was moderated by Marla Hassner, a Pride Agenda board member from Lehman Brothers. Panel participants included PIMW activists Emily Jones (HRC Business Council), Richard Oceguera (Coldwell Banker Previews International and Manhattan Chamber of Commerce), and Leotis Sanders (Macy’s East).

From left to right: Richard Oceguera, Emily Jones, Leotis Sanders, and Marla Hassner.

The panelists had a fantastic dialogue about business and workplace equality efforts and the future of LGBT Best Practices. The group agreed that visibility is key; companies need to make sure that their LGBT employees are visible within the workplace and that their affirming practices are highlighted. In addition, they need to make sure that their charitable works and Best Practices are visible to the public so that the LGBT community and its allies will know what companies should receive their business.

Panelists and the audience also talked about the future of LGBT employees. They agreed that the Millennial Generation – including recent grads and current college and high school students – are naturally more accepting and open, and that as a result, in 20 years, the workplace should be a dramatically different place for the gay community. There’s also a need to recruit a larger pool of young LGBT talent that will be able to break the glass ceiling and produce more high-level LGBT executives in the future.

For more information about Pride In My Workplace, contact Wazina Zondon at wzondon@prideagenda.org or call (212) 627-0305.