June 8, 2005
Representative Lewis is not available to speak at June Pride. He is apparently not taking any diversity related speaking events. The Office of Civil Rights invited HRC President Joe Solomonese (GLOBE’s second speaker choice). However, he is not available until August. So DOI and GLOBE have agreed to set something up for August.
The Office of Civil Rights wants the event to be billed as a “workshop” rather than a “celebration” in keeping with the general trend towards having only educational programs with measurable outcomes. Nothing specific has been planned with respect to our program as of yet.
The 23rd and 29th of June were proposed for a GLOBE lunch at the Corcoran. Jay will send an email out and Maria will coordinate.
Ike reported that only half of local federal agencies were holding June Pride programs this year.
The Office of Civil Rights will be holding “Diversity Days” at Main Interior on July 13 & 14. It will be a festival-type event which will include booths for the employee groups. GLOBE has been invited to participate. One day of the event will be outdoors at Rawlins Park. Information about this event will be sent out by Sylvia. We may need to hold a special meeting to coordinate GLOBE’s involvement.
USGS had its Diversity Day at Reston on June 7th. Ike was the master of ceremonies and reported that the program was well attended. Unfortunately, a GLBT collage was defaced prior to the event, but was left up so all could see the vandalism. An announcement was made at the program noting the vandalism. There may be some follow-up by USGS.
Midway through the meeting, six representatives from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), including Directors Chance Mitchell and Justin Nelson, joined the meeting with Bob Faithful, Director of DOI’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, to include GLOBE in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between NGLCC and DOI. The MOU outlines the relationship between DOI and NGLCC and places NGLCC on the DOI’s registry for small businesses. The Department is the first Federal agency to sign an MOU with a GLBT business organization. After the signing and picture taking with NGLCC, GLOBE, and Bob, Bob thanked GLOBE for its assistance in helping him make connections with the GLBT community. As a thank you to GLOBE, NGLCC made 10 reservations available for GLOBE members to attend its award dinner being held later in the week at the National Building Museum. GLOBE is to be specifically recognized for its contribution.
Ike attended the FedGLOBE meeting at the HRC building earlier in the week. Six members of the executive board and 10 agency representatives attended. The participants reported a general loss of support for GLOBE activities. Reasons for this possibly include people leaving government, retirements, attrition, and lack of support from the agencies.
Ike reported to the group that DOI administrators generally represent the approach taken by the Bush administration: maintaining the status quo. Representatives at the meeting also reported that not just GLOBE groups, but all special emphasis groups are experiencing problems: no overt support, programs being cut, monthly proclamations not being sent out, and problems with June Pride programs. However, Secretary of State Rice met with several groups including the State Department’s GLBT group.
A new problem has arisen at OPM. The agency has issued a non-discrimination policy that does not include sexual orientation. OPM GLOBE protested, but OPM responded by saying that the Clinton executive order prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation is not legally binding, and that GLBT employees are not statutorily protected against discrimination. There has been significant dialogue between OPM GLOBE and the OPM administration on this matter.
The OPM administration noted that if there is a problem that GLBT employees can appeal to the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). However, given the current political posture at OSC, GLBT employees will not likely receive aid. FedGLOBE takes the position that OPM is abrogating its responsibilities as a manager with this approach and will likely weigh in with OPM. The OPM union is becoming involved and is supportive of OPM GLOBE.
OPM GLOBE is considering a lawsuit based on the Clinton executive order, previous OPM statements that included sexual orientation, the removal of GLBT information from OPM’s website, etc. The possible adverse press exposure could influence OPM to change its position.
FedGLOBE is sponsoring a party on June 10th at the home of one its Board members, and will have a booth at the DC Pride festival downtown. Ike will likely help out at the booth.
Richard Nolan, who called in from his Phoenix office and is the Department’s liaison to GLBT employees, discussed his recent activities. Richard met with Sharon Eller, Director of the Office of Civil Rights, the week of May 2, 2005, at the BLM National Training Center during the mandatory EEO Counselor’s Training Course given by Sharon and her staff. Sharon is Richard’s supervisor for his liaison activities. He said she is supportive of GLBT issues and is including a discussion of sexual orientation in the formal training of the 900 Departmental EEO counselors. Sharon has requested Richard to rewrite the DOI manual for the processing of complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation. She thinks the manual contains too much “legalese” and is too complex to be of use. The group discussed the need to track any changes made to the new manual. GLOBE has an interest in the policy because it was instrumental in getting the policy in place.
Richard asked that he be told of any incidents that happen around any of DOI’s June Pride programs, and he will pass the information to Sharon.
Richard reported that there will be an “Out and Equal” conference in Denver in September. He has requested FedGLOBE to support this conference this year. FedGLOBE did not attend or sponsor any conference last year. He will have the conference posted on the DOI Diversity website under ERG conferences.
Ike will send out Joe’s proposed changes to the bylaws. The proposed changes include language that is more inclusive of transgendered employees.
There was discussion by the group of DOI’s support of the Boy Scouts Jamboree given the organization’s discriminatory position with regard to sexual orientation. The members recalled that the last administration sought guidance from the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding whether it could support such activities given the Clinton executive order. It was determined at that time that the jamboree could continue on Federal land with DOI support. Given that, the members decided that GLOBE’s only avenue of protest could be a letter to the Secretary and bureau heads stating that support of a discriminatory organization by the Federal government is inappropriate. There was discussion, but no conclusion as to whether FedGLOBE should be included as a signatory of the letter.
Joe recently completed some required DOI training and noted that it did not adequately address transgendered issues. Joe suggested that employees be included in drafting future training materials.
Jerry suggested that a meeting with Sharon should be called to discuss many of the issues brought up at today’s meeting.
Revised:
07/25/05
Robert_J_Veltkamp@nbc.gov