to the 2009 Texas Diversity and Leadership Conference GLBT Summit

Summit Highlights:
Links of Interest
Welcome to the 2nd Annual GLBT Summit.
2009 marks new beginnings in the world in which we live; with the recent election of new government officers, most notably President Barack Obama, the future landscape will surely change. June 28, 2009 also marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots that started the modern gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. While many advances have since been made, continued efforts are still needed to fully understand and embrace the GLBT segment of our society.
The GLBT community is rich with diversity - reaching across all cultural lines - representing an expansive talent pool of workers and a consumer segment with purchasing power of over $712 billion. Organizations are facing a challenging environment in which they must balance sound business principles with equitable employee policies in order to remain competitive. To be the best in today’s market requires organizations to thoroughly understand how all employees and customers fit into their strategic plans. Their GLBT resources are no exception.
The Summit Planning Committee has been hard at work for several months to bring you a robust program – one that not only promotes the advancement of work place equality for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people, but also provides value to today’s leading organizations. Whether you are a Human Resources or Diversity professional, a people manager, or an individual contributor, you will leave our educational sessions with a better understanding of the Texas GLBT climate, ready to build fully inclusive workplaces, and boost your competitive edge.
Our intent with this year’s Summit is to present new ideas and encourage personal and organizational growth. Our hope is that you come prepared for a stimulating dialogue on issues that affect GLBT individuals, their allies, and their employers. We look forward to your participation in these timely conversations. See you at the Summit!
Best regards,
2009 GLBT Summit Planning Committee
Ron Ausemus, Out & Equal, Dallas Chapter
Vanessa Benavides, Tenet Healthcare Corp
Paul Guillory, HRC Board of Governors
Ellen Junious, Author & Equality Texas Board Member
Mark Kosiara, Shell International Exploration & Production Inc.
Jim Price, SPHR, CAPM, Citi
Robb Puckett, HRC Business Council
Paul Scott, Executive Director, Equality Texas
Meghan Stabler, BMC Software
R. Alan York, Godwin Ronquillo PC