Highest-ranking LGBT official in President Barack Obama’s administration to speak during 2009 Out & Equal Workplace Summit
Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009Summit set for Oct. 6-9 in Orlando, Fla.
Sept. 23, 2009
As Congress considers federal laws that would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from workplace discrimination, one of the most influential supporters of equality in President Barack Obama’s administration will deliver his inspirational speech to nearly 2,000 people attending the 2009 Out & Equal Workplace Summit.
John Berry—the administration’s highest-ranking LGBT official as the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management—will speak on Oct. 9 during the Summit’s Closing Plenary, which will wrap up four full-days of the world’s premier conference on LGBT workplace equality at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort near Orlando, Fla.
He was instrumental in President Obama’s recent decision to extend limited domestic partnership benefits to LGBT federal employees, a move he has called “the first step, not the final step” in the federal government’s commitment to extending equal rights and protections to all LGBT Americans.
Berry has consistently been a voice of LGBT equality at the federal level, repeatedly reiterating the administration’s support for passage of a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act, hate crimes legislation, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act.
He joins an impressive list of Summit speakers that includes Sharon L. Allen, chair of Deloitte’s board, Kevin Brockman, executive vice president of global communications for Disney-ABC, John Quinones, co-anchor of ABC newsmagazine “Primetime,” and Kenji Yoshino, author of “Covering: The Hidden Assault on Our Civil Rights.”
“Everyone should take part in this opportunity to hear directly from someone who is helping shape LGBT history,” Out & Equal Executive Director Selisse Berry says. “He is actively working to secure equal rights not only for federal employees, but for all of us by inspiring change and for being a catalyst for equality.”
If you’re interested in covering this speech or any other aspect of the 2009 Workplace Summit, please contact Associate Director of Communications & Marketing Erik Olvera at 415-694-6512 or eolvera@outandequal.org.
Media calls: Erik Olvera, 415-694-6512 or eolvera@outandequal.org
