Out & Equal
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| Out & Equal | |
|---|---|
| Name | Out & Equal |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California |
| Key people | Peter O. "equivalent placeholder" |
| Focus | Workplace equity for LGBT people |
Out & Equal is a nonprofit organization focused on workplace equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender employees. The organization connects corporations, nonprofits, labor unions, and public sector employers to advance policies and practices affecting diversity, inclusion, and benefits. Out & Equal convenes large conferences, produces training programs, and partners with corporate and community stakeholders to influence workplace culture.
History
Out & Equal was founded in 1996 during a period of heightened activism that included figures and events such as Bill Clinton, Harvey Milk, Stonewall Riots, Human Rights Campaign, and Lambda Legal. Early development intersected with advocacy by organizations like GLAAD, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and PFLAG, while corporate engagement reflected trends from companies such as Microsoft, IBM, Ford Motor Company, Chevron, and General Electric. The group expanded through partnerships with labor organizations like the AFL–CIO and institutions such as University of California, Berkeley and Stanford University. Over time Out & Equal's timeline paralleled legal milestones including Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Defense of Marriage Act, Obergefell v. Hodges, Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and state-level ballot measures in California Proposition 8 and Arizona SB 1070.
Mission and Programs
Out & Equal's mission aligns with initiatives advanced by entities such as American Civil Liberties Union, The Trevor Project, Human Rights Campaign, National Center for Transgender Equality, and Equality Federation. Programs include workplace training similar to offerings from Catalyst (organization), executive development paralleling Harvard Business School Executive Education, and employee resource group support echoing practices at Google, Facebook, Accenture, and Goldman Sachs. Programmatic work addresses benefits influenced by rulings like United States v. Windsor and policies from federal agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Department of Labor. Certification and benchmarking efforts reflect methodologies used by Stonewall (charity), Corporate Equality Index, and international standards promulgated by organizations like International Labour Organization and United Nations Human Rights Council.
Conferences and Events
The organization's flagship event convenes thousands of attendees, drawing speakers and participants from companies like Amazon (company), Apple Inc., Procter & Gamble, McKinsey & Company, and Deloitte. Keynote presenters and honorees have included public figures associated with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey, and RuPaul Charles, while panels have featured labor leaders from SEIU, activists from ACT UP, and legal experts from Covington & Burling and WilmerHale. Conferences emphasize workshops on topics related to litigation such as Bostock v. Clayton County, policy reform similar to campaigns by Human Rights Campaign, and corporate governance exemplified by BlackRock and Vanguard. Regional events mirror programming formats used by Outreach (trade show) and nonprofit convenings such as Netroots Nation.
Organizational Structure and Leadership
Out & Equal is governed by a board and executive team, a structure comparable to nonprofit leadership at American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and United Way Worldwide. Leadership roles have included executives with backgrounds at corporations like Salesforce, Intel, Wells Fargo, and American Airlines, and advisors drawn from law firms such as Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and policy shops like The Ford Foundation. Governance and compliance practices reflect standards referenced by Internal Revenue Service filings and nonprofit oversight by state attorneys general such as California Attorney General. Volunteer and staff networks coordinate with employee resource groups at Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, and EY.
Funding and Partnerships
Funding sources combine corporate sponsorships from Microsoft, Google, Nike, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer with foundation grants from Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and Carnegie Corporation of New York. Partnerships include collaborations with advocacy organizations like Lambda Legal and National LGBTQ Task Force, academic institutions such as Columbia University and University of Pennsylvania, and international bodies including UN Women and European Commission. Event underwriting and program grants mirror fundraising strategies employed by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Impact and Advocacy
Out & Equal's advocacy contributed to corporate policy shifts at firms such as Cisco Systems, Intel Corporation, Novartis, Kaiser Permanente, and Target Corporation, influencing benefits, non-discrimination policies, and diversity metrics reported to Securities and Exchange Commission. The organization's work has been cited alongside campaigns like It Gets Better Project, legal victories such as Obergefell v. Hodges, and municipal ordinances in cities including San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, and Seattle. Metrics of impact are often compared with indices produced by Glassdoor, Fortune (magazine), and Forbes lists highlighting inclusive employers.
Criticisms and Controversies
Critiques of Out & Equal echo debates involving Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD over corporate relationships, commercialization, and prioritization of workplace initiatives versus grassroots activism by groups like ACT UP and Queer Nation. Controversies have touched on sponsorship from companies implicated in disputes with groups such as Black Lives Matter and labor actions tied to unions like Teamsters. Commentators and scholars from institutions like Harvard Kennedy School, Yale Law School, and Columbia Law School have raised questions about balancing private-sector engagement with movement-driven priorities and intersectional advocacy.