When I first began Diversity and Inclusion work in organizations over 20 years ago, there were those in the D&I community who did not think that LGBT people had a seat at the Diversity table. Race and gender and other dimensions of diversity had a seat, but if you were a Black lesbian, a Jewish gay man, or a Latino…
In honor of Gay Pride-Please promise to never use the term “sexual preference.” It’s culturally ignorant and you sound like you know nothing. When someone who should know better uses it, it’s simply offensive. Please think about sexual orientation and gender identity. Being Transgender is not a sexual orientation.A person can be Transgender and be straight or lesbian, bisexual or gay.This is…
Beyond LGBTQ, Finding Commonalities In Our Multiple Identities Every one of us has multiple identities. Those multiple identities influence our thoughts, perceptions and behaviors every day in our lives at work, and in our communities. Our multiple-identities are like panels that make us each separate but connected beautiful diversity quilts The late Dr. Roosevelt Thomas stated Diversity is any collective mixture…
Arizona Legislators Pass Pro-discrimination BillDiversity and Inclusion zeros-Arizona legislators pass a bill making it legal to deny services to people that go against the religious beliefs of businesses. They have no homelessness, unemployment or crime and are looking for something to spend their time and money on. Will they also deny services to the many Christian, Jewish, and people from…
Today is National and International Coming Out Day for LGBT people and friends. Many of us have been sharing our memories of coming out , and the days before we came out. I remember when I used to hide the “gay books” because I didn’t want people to know that I was gay. Then I noticed that my straight friends had the same books, and…
Supporting homophobia and/or racism, is not a “matter of opinion,” it is racism and homophobia. I believe in meeting people where they are to take them to another level and educate them in ways that are relevant to them. I’m always curious and learn when I hear different sides, opinions and perspectives on issues. However, being anti-LGBT under the guise…
Diversity and Inclusion Leaders Need to Know How to be Diversity and Inclusion Allies By Simma Lieberman, The Inclusionist At some point in our lives, everyone needs an ally, a person who supports our ideas, encourages us to follow our dreams, or defends us against naysayers. At some point in our lives, we’ve probably all had opportunities to be an…
Earlier this week the Supreme Court struck down DOMA and said good by to Proposition 8. This was a plus for diversity and inclusion. For LGBT couples in states where same-sex marriage is legal it’s historic. They are now eligible for over 1,000 Federal benefits, including joint tax returns, and survivor spouse and child social security benefits. For lesbian and gay…
I heard an LGBT activist on television infer that the Democrats who supported gay marriage were more “pure,” than Republicans who support gay marriage. He said that Democrats were more sincere because the only reason previous anti-gay Republicans like Sen. Rob Portman supported gay marriage was because they found out they had kids who were LGBT or had friends that…
What does it take for a homophobic Christian to shed their bigotry and fear, and see LGBT people not only as humans but to support their quest for equality? For Timothy Kurek it took living his life as a gay man for a year, to go from believing being gay is a sin, to believing that being a good Christian…
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