Election Day is here. I proudly voted and I sincerely hope everyone with the ability to has or will cast their ballots for our country and for our future.

The stakes are so high for the LGBTQ+ community and for equality-at-large.

As we await the results, know this. Regardless of the outcome of this election, the strength and power of the LGBTQ+ community will not change and our mission at Out & Equal will not change. We will remain focused on building businesses of belonging.

We will sharpen and hone our services to ensure your internal change agents, who are charged with doing this critical work in an ever-more complicated landscape, will have the tools and resources they need. We will continue to be a resource for leaders and a convener of community.

No matter what, we will keep pushing forward.

Last month, in response to Hurricane Milton, we made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel the in-person component of this year’s Workplace Summit in Orlando, Florida.

We know how much this event means to our community, and we too, felt the disappointment of not being able to come together in-person.

While we were unable to convene, we did have an opportunity to capture powerful speeches from our Board Chair, Allyn L. Shaw (he/him), and our CEO, Erin Uritus (she/her).

In a moment of uncertainty, their remarks reinforce our community’s ability to meet any moment and persevere.

This content is only the beginning. As delivered in a call last week to our Partner community, Out & Equal has rolled out an exciting pivot to a “Virtual Summit” that lifts up curated premier sessions, fireside chats, and new resources from what would have taken place in Orlando.

We have already convened hundreds of Summit attendees in a series of “Illuminate Belonging” sessions and we are hosting our fifteen Community Engagement Groups (CEGs) that are bringing together LGBTQ+ professionals and allies from across our more than 330 Partner network between now and January.



Then, in a capstone moment during the week of January 13th, Out & Equal will convene the entire Workplace Summit attendee community (5,000+) over two days for exciting live learning, discussions, and community engagement. Most importantly, if you are an employee at an Out & Equal Partner company and were not slotted to attend Summit, Out & Equal is creating learning and discussion guides that will support your representatives in bringing back this learning to you in new and exciting Employee Resource Group (ERG) programming.

We're excited for what's in store and are confident this learning content will help our Partners advance inclusion and belonging in their workplace. 

On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we acknowledge and remember the lives of transgender individuals who have been tragically lost due to violence and discrimination.

And while we mourn those who are no longer with us, we must also recognize the strength and resilience of the transgender community, which in the face of immense adversity and danger, continues to be on the front lines of advancing equality for all.



This day is a poignant reminder that we all play a role in building a future where every individual, regardless of gender identity, can live freely without fear and thrive.

Out & Equal in the News

Our CEO, Erin Uritus: 

• Penned an op-ed with Bob Witeck, President of Witeck Communications, Inc., for Fast Company on why inclusion and belonging, from talent to brand loyalty and the bottom line, remain business imperatives. 
• Wrote a byline for The Advocate on National Coming Out Day about her own journey and how corporate leaders can ensure their building spaces of belonging where their LGBTQ+ employees can thrive. 

Jean-Marie Navetta (she/ella), Out & Equal’s Vice President of Learning Programs, was featured along several other luminaries and influencers in OUT’s “Coming Out, Me” series.  

Support Out & Equal on Giving Tuesday

December 3

Everyone should be able to show up to work as their complete and authentic self. On Tuesday, December 3, Giving Tuesday, donate to Out & Equal.

Your contribution makes a difference in advancing LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion and belonging. Together, we'll advance your business forward and build a future where everyone can thrive.

Join the Out & Equal Community