June 26, 2002, marked Interior’s fifth annual June Gay and Lesbian Pride Celebration. This year’s theme was "Unity in Pride." Mark Oliver, Director, Office of Educational Partnerships, and Master of Ceremony, emphasized that this celebration included a celebration of bisexual and transgender employees, as well as gay men and lesbians. Christopher B. Kearney, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Policy and International Affairs, welcomed the audience, and spoke of the need to educate all employees on the strengths of diversity in the work place and the use of special emphasis programs, such as the African-American, Hispanic and Asian-American programs that preceded the Gay and Lesbian Pride Program.

Two candles were then lit for victims of AIDS and Hate Crimes by GLOBE member Andy DeVito and Donald Cunningham. Sarita Davis from the Office for Equal Opportunity sang "God Bless America" prior to the guest speakers being introduced by Jay Douglas.

The program’s featured speaker, the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department Chief Charles H. Ramsey, thanked Secretary Norton for the Department’s support of the June Pride event. Chief Ramsey is the first Police Chief to begin an outreach effort to the GLBT community in Washington. He stated that law enforcement has not always been supportive of the GLBT community, citing a lack of communication and trust between the two. To remedy the situation, Chief Ramsey created a new liaison unit in the Police Department. Two officers are currently assigned to the liaison unit, which acts as a resource for Police Department employees as well as an outreach mechanism to the GLBT community. Chief Ramsey stated that there is a need for true community policing in the future, and he feels that this unit will help him and the Metropolitan Police Department achieve that goal. Chief Ramsey said that "ten years ago we would not have been" at this type of event, but with leadership we have arrived at this point. Chief Ramsey then spoke of the support that he had received from the program’s second featured speaker, Barbara Warner, of the Metropolitan D.C. Chapter of Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (D.C. PFLAG).

Ms. Warner, President of D.C. PFLAG, spoke of her great respect and high regard for Chief Ramsey. She began by saying that her qualifications for her job were just one – "being a mom." PFLAG is an organization that supports the GLBT community with education and advocacy, with education being the primary mission of the organization. PFLAG was founded by a mother of a gay man who was beaten by New York Fire Department employees while he was passing out literature supporting gay rights in New York City in 1972. In the Gay Pride Parade that year, Mrs. Jeanne Manford carried a sign that said "Parents of Gays: Unite in Support for Our Children." Presently, there are 480 chapters and 80,000 people in 90 countries participating in PFLAG. "We are empowered by the first mom and her son," Warner said.

Warner stated that "racism, sexism and homophobia are recognized as the basis for the majority of crimes in this country." To combat this, PFLAG and the Metropolitan Police Department worked together in creating the gay and lesbian liaison office. Warner further said, as she closed her presentation, that "Chief Ramsey, by his actions, has let the Gay and Lesbian Community know that they are entitled to the full measure of their civil rights. We have a ways to go. We won’t get there overnight, but we will get there." She added, "I hope the need for PFLAG ends with my generation."

Jerry Bock, President of Interior GLOBE, was the next presenter. He stated that the mission of Interior GLOBE is to represent the GLBT employees of the Department in making sure the workplace is a safe and productive environment. He thanked Deputy Assistant Secretary Mike Trujillo and several others who were instrumental in the June Pride Program.

Mr. Bock then presented Interior GLOBE’s annual New Millennium Human Rights Award to Melodee Stith, Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity. The award is also known as the "John Berry Award," and is named after its first recipient, John Berry, for his work to provide GLBT employees with a better work environment while he was Assistant Secretary – Policy, Management and Budget. Mr. Bock then listed Ms. Stith’s many accomplishments in support of the GLBT employees of the Department. Ms. Stith was a driving force behind the development of the Department’s grievance procedures for employees who have been discriminated against as a result of their sexual orientation. She also added a representative for GLBT employees to the Department’s Diversity Council, provided training to managers on GLBT issues, and supported the inclusion of domestic partners in the Department’s relocation benefits policy. Through her efforts, the Department of the Interior has become one of the leading gay-friendly agencies in the Federal Government.

In accepting the award, Melodee Stith said that "this is a truly wonderful recognition" of the work that has been accomplished, and that "human resources are our most valuable resources." She praised Secretary Norton for signing the Zero Tolerance Statement which includes sexual orientation, and commended the U.S. Geological Survey for their leadership in adding GLBT issues to those addressed by their Special Emphasis Program. Ms. Stith concluded by saying "I am humbled by this award, but I assure you it was part of my job." She thanked Interior GLOBE and stated she looked forward to a continuing relationship.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diversity, Mike Trujillo, closed the program by thanking the speakers and saying that he had changed his schedule to attend this event. "We want to work for equal access for all," he said. He concluded by saying "I look forward to working with Interior GLOBE."

I firmly believe the answer to the latter question is yes, there is a need for GLOBE.  From my perspective, the following are the purposes of GLOBE:

Communication and a Sense of Community:  Although most of us take for granted the fairly open and accepting nature of our workplaces when it comes to GLBT issues, the conditions are not good for everyone, and could be improved in most situations.  GLOBE exists to foster communication among GLBT workers at Interior, and to assure that a community, however loosely knitted, does exist.  GLOBE provides a forum for discussion and sharing of information about GLBT issues.  Also, GLOBE members have participated in volunteer activities, such as kitchen duty at Food & Friends.

Awareness of Rights and Resources:  Through the efforts of many people, staff and managers, progress has been made towards workplace equality for GLBT people at Interior.  The progress is usually incremental and sometimes "maintaining" is a measure of success.  One influential person at our Department was Assistant Secretary John Berry, who played a key role in several reforms.  Domestic partners of gay employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program, and also may receive relocation assistance under the Department’s relocation guidelines.  Further, Interior has an established administrative process for handling of GLBT discrimination complaints.

Working Towards Equality:  Because the rights listed above are both limited and tenuous, GLOBE sees as one of its most important purposes the continuing advocacy for GLBT rights.  We seek full equality in the workplace, fairness in all policies for ourselves and our partners, and the right to be ourselves without fear of damage to our careers.

Celebration and Pride:  GLOBE seeks to build on a sense of community by promoting June Pride events and encouraging the celebration of GLBT history and accomplishments.

As with most organizations of this nature, at times the energy level is very low and only a few people participate.  But we will continue to work for the reasons described above and hopefully in a manner that will attract new energy and help us, working together, to move the Department forward on issues of concern to GLOBE members.

I would like to see more GLOBE members participate in some of the activities that Interior GLOBE could sponsor in 2003, if we have enough interest:  1) June Pride activities, with which we’ve had big success the past few years; perhaps co-sponsor a Pride event with a GLOBE chapter at another department or agency; 2) World AIDS Day ceremony, in conjunction with other Interior special emphasis groups; 3) Participation in GLBT DC Pride Parade (with FedGLOBE); 4) GLOBE socials (luncheons, after-work happy hours); and 5) Volunteer participation at Food & Friends

Thanks for your interest and support for GLOBE.

The overall goals of the Special Emphasis Program are to enhance the impact of the USGS mission, vision, and strategic direction; meet diversity goals and objectives; foster a positive cultural change; and ensure an open and communicative environment for cross-cultural exchange of information and ideas.

Each of the three USGS regions and the Headquarters Office has a Special Emphasis Program Advisory Committee composed of a senior manager and liaisons from the Federal Women’s Program, the Hispanic Employment Program, the Individuals with Disabilities Employment Program, the African American Employment Program, the American Indian/Alaskan Native Employment Program, the Asian American/Pacific Islander Employment Program, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered (GLBT) Program, and the Multi-cultural, Multi-racial, and Other Ethnic Groups Program.

One of our GLBT liaisons, Helen Turner, is an active member of her PFLAG chapter in Lafayette, Louisiana.  Helen has a gay son and is very enthusiastic supporter of GLBT issues.  She has also developed a relationship with the GLBT student group at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.  Helen is an Interior GLOBE member and recently attended the "Out and Equal" conference in Orlando.  The Advisory Committee is very fortunate to have a diverse group of people from different races, nationalities, abilities, genders, and sexual orientations, which bring a wide variety of perspectives and ideas to the Program.

Michael Trujillo, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Resources and Workforce Diversity, and Melodee Stith, Director, Office for Equal Opportunity, have been very supportive of the Advisory Committee structure and the Program’s goals and objectives.  They look to the USGS Advisory Committee as a model for other Departmental Special Emphasis Programs.  On numerous occasions, including the Department’s 2002 June Pride celebration held in Washington, Michael and Melodee publicly voiced how impressed they are by the level of camaraderie and leadership shown by the Advisory Committee.

I serve as the program manager for the National Special Emphasis Program for USGS in the Office of Equal Opportunity in Reston, Virginia.  I have been a cartographer for the Federal government for nearly 15 years, and only recently changed my career path to work in this Office.  This big transition came for me several years ago when I volunteered to train USGS employees in a four-hour Diversity course.  I had the opportunity to facilitate this course for approximately 1,000 employees here and in the Office of the Secretary.  As a gay man, I bring my own uniqueness and diversity to the USGS and the Advisory Committee.  I am proud to serve as an agent of change by increasing awareness of diversity on all levels.  I believe that having a diverse workforce is an important part of any workforce, and I strive to increase that awareness on all matters - including sexual orientation issues.

Interior GLOBE awarded its annual New Millennium Human Rights Award to Melodee Stith, Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity at the 2002 June Pride celebration. The Award is given annually by GLOBE to honor an individual who has shown outstanding leadership and commitment in his or her efforts to significantly benefit gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) employees of the Department of the Interior.

Under Ms. Stith’s direction, the Office for Equal Opportunity developed administrative procedures for addressing complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation.  Without these procedures, GLBT employees of the Department would have no forum in which to have their discrimination claims heard.

Ms. Stith was also responsible for ensuring that a seat was reserved for a GLBT employee representative on the Department’s Diversity Council.  She sought to address gay and lesbian concerns that were brought to the Council, and continually worked toward the resolution of these concerns.  To further assist in addressing employee concerns, Ms. Stith supported the creation of a new position in her office - the Departmental Liaison to gay and lesbian employees.

In addition, Ms. Stith ensured that the Department’s diversity trainings, both in Washington and in the field, addressed sexual orientation.  She sought to raise awareness of sexual orientation and the issues that gay and lesbian employees face among the Department’s E.O. counselors.  Ms. Stith also supported allowing domestic partners of Departmental employees access to the Dual Career/Relocation Assistance Policy and access to Department’s Employee Assistance Program.

Because of Ms. Stith’s outstanding leadership, the Department of the Interior is one of the leading agencies in protecting the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered employees, and in providing a supportive environment in which to work.