September 26, 2006
June GLBT Special Emphasis Program
Interior GLOBE sponsored a “Gay, Lesbian, and Transgendered Diversity Celebration” on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, in the Rachel Carlson Room in the Main Interior Building in Washington, D.C. The program included:
Welcome and opening remarks by Sharon
Eller, Director, DOI Office of Civil Rights (OCR);
Candle lighting ceremony in
remembrance of AIDS victims;
Presentation of the 6th
Annual New Millennium Human Rights Award to Jay Douglas for major
contributions to the workplace environment for Interior GLBT employees; and
Panel discussion and open forum on “Best practices for GLBT inclusion in the workplace.” Panelists were:
· Erik Bloom, Associate Director of the Workplace Project for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC);
· Justin Nelson, Executive Director, National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC);
· Hillary Howes, Gender Public Advocacy Coalition (GenderPac);
· Riley Folds, Founder, Diversity Change Agents.
Attendees have told us that the program went exceptionally well. Next year’s program will be planned and held in the context of a revised and renamed successor to DOI’s Special Emphasis Programs.
World AIDS Day Planning
DOI is planning an event, and FWS is the lead agency. Interior GLOBE will support FWS’s efforts, which will include screening of the AIDS film: “State of Denial,” (not to be confused with Bob Woodward’s recent political tome of the same title) followed by questions and discussion.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally (LGBTA) Undergraduate Student Career Conference
Ike Kelley volunteered to staff a table for the Department of the Interior at the conference, which is sponsored by Out for Work and scheduled for October 21-22, 2006, in Washington, D.C. Additional volunteers are invited to join and (or) relieve Ike at the Interior table. If you are interested in helping, please contact Ike at: mkelley@usgs.gov, or (703) 648-4635. There is a $75 registration fee, which DOI OCR has indicated they might provide in support of our participation.
Planning for meeting with Sharon Eller, Director, DOI Office of Civil Rights
This agenda item stimulated considerable discussion. A list of issues for possible discussion with Sharon was started and will be expanded. Some of the items from the action plan generated during Interior GLOBE’s retreat in 2005, will be added. A draft list will be circulated to Interior GLOBE members for comment and additional suggestions. There also is a need for background information for Sharon on topics for discussion. Ike Kelley, Maria Wiseman, Jerry Bock, and Joe Briskey agreed to begin some research and compilations for this purpose.
Revised:
10/02/08
Robert_J_Veltkamp@nbc.gov