Out Leadership

01/28/2025

We’re incredibly thankful for the overwhelming support we’ve received since announcing our Global Town Hall—happening tomorrow at 12PM EST!

The conversations we’ve had this past week with leaders from across the globe have been nothing short of inspiring, and we’re beyond excited to connect LIVE with you all, alongside Camilla Taylor, Deputy Legal Director for Litigation for Lambda Legal, and Rufus Gifford, Former US Ambassador to Denmark and former Chief of Protocol of United States.

Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time! Click the link in our bio to secure your spot. See you tomorrow!

01/27/2025

An important update from our Founder and CEO, Todd Sears.

This upcoming Wednesday, January 29, at 12 PM EST, we will be hosting a Global Town Hall. This is open to the public, and we encourage you to invite your colleagues, network, friends, and anyone you think can benefit from these conversations. To register, please visit the link in our bio.

See you then! 🤍

01/11/2025

Hey 👀

We are so excited be hosting OutNEXT Virtual next week on January 13-15, 2025, sponsored by RBC and Citi.

AND….this year, for the first time ever, we are going to open OutNEXT Virtual to a select number of young LGBTQ+ leaders from non-member companies to allow more emerging talent from our community anywhere in the world the opportunity to experience OutNEXT and discover their OutVantage!

Interested in being part of this unforgettable experience? Email [email protected] 💥

01/05/2025

A huge congratulations to , who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Biden today!

Tim, founder of the Gill Foundation, is a trailblazer in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, funding groundbreaking initiatives and securing key victories in marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections.

A longtime , Tim has played a pivotal role in advancing our mission, including his early and generous support of the Climate Index, equipping business leaders with the tools to tackle the ongoing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ Americans.

Thank you, Tim, for your unwavering dedication to the LGBTQ+ community.

10/11/2024

National Coming Out Day is all about living your truth—and thriving while you do it!

Fun fact: LGBTQ+ inclusive companies consistently outperform their competitors. Celebrate by investing in your LGBTQ+ employees and building a culture where everyone truly belongs. Learn more at outleadership.com.

10/07/2024

We are thrilled to introduce the first part of the 2024 Out Leadership Global Impact Report, a comprehensive resource that highlights the critical work being done to advance LGBTQ+ equality through the power of business. At a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts face increasing scrutiny and rollback, this report reaffirms why our collective efforts are more essential than ever—not only for the LGBTQ+ community but for the broader global business landscape.

In the first half of 2024, Out Leadership convened over 1,500 leaders from more than 165 organizations across five continents, hosting global summits in New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. These summits were not just forums for discussion; they were incubators for action, empowering leaders to make a lasting impact on their organizations, colleagues, and communities.

The Global Impact Report details key initiatives, including our Board Diversity and Self-ID programs, which are instrumental in advancing inclusion and ensuring that organizations remain competitive in today’s rapidly changing business environment. These initiatives are driving measurable change, enhancing employee engagement, fostering talent development, and refining global business practices.

As you explore the report, you'll see how Out Leadership is making a difference worldwide and how your organization can sustain and build upon this momentum. The report offers practical strategies and insights that align with the current climate, ensuring that your inclusion efforts are both impactful and enduring.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to driving LGBTQ+ inclusion in the business world. Together, we are creating a more equitable and inclusive future.

Explore the 2024 Out Leadership Global Impact Report and be a part of this critical journey.

Learn more: https://loom.ly/zAbSTXI

10/02/2024

➡️ Out Leadership is coming back to Boston!

Gen Z—the most LGBTQ-identified generation in history— have overtaken the Baby Boomers in the workforce. Is your company prepared to respond to the Future of Work for LGBTQ+ Talent?

Leaders from Bain Capital, Ropes & Gray, and Out Leadership will share strategies for attracting and developing the next generation of LGBTQIA+ leaders. Plus, get insights from the Out Leadership Business Climate Index on how LGBTQ+ realities are shaping the U.S. talent landscape.

Thursday, October 10
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Register now in the Out Leadership Member Portal and be part of this inspiring conversation! Hosted by Bain Capital.

09/25/2024

Thailand’s king has signed a historic marriage equality bill into law making the country the first in Southeast Asia to legalize same-sex marriage. The new law, which will come into effect on January 22, 2025, grants same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples, including adoption and inheritance.

Out Leadership Founder & CEO Todd Sears advocated for this legislation, arguing in a Bangkok Post op-ed that marriage equality would be a significant economic opportunity for Thailand. In his article, Sears argued that same-sex marriage would attract multinational companies, increase tourism, and enhance Thailand’s global reputation as a destination for LGBTQ+ individuals. With national policies in line with its LGBTQ-friendly image, Thailand would secure significant economic benefits, including foreign investment and stronger talent retention.

09/12/2024

🚨 The Return on Equality™ Summit for Corporate Impact is just around the corner—and you don't want to miss it!

📅 Dates: September 16-17, 2024
💼 Why attend? You’ll gain practical tools, insights, and connections that will help you build a more inclusive, resilient, and profitable businesses.

✔ Self-ID and Data Collection (Virtual)
✔Advancing Inclusion and Sustainability in Times of Legal and Political Risk (Virtual)
✔ Exclusive CMO Lunch
✔ VIP Senior Leader Reception

🔗 Don’t miss out—register now in the Out Leadership to Member Portal to be part of this pivotal moment and make an impact!

REGISTER: https://loom.ly/yWPa3Ws

Virtual events are open to all! Please email [email protected] to join.

The Summit continues in November with events focused on LGBTQ+ board diversity as part of OutQUORUM.

Sponsored by:
MSCI
Hogan Lovells
Mizuho
KPMG
Egon Zehnder

Click to explore this page.

09/05/2024

📣 Get Ready for OutNEXT 2024! 🌍🏳️‍🌈

We’re thrilled to unveil the incredible lineup of speakers for the 2024 OutNEXT Global Summit! OutNEXT is Out Leadership’s global talent accelerator, designed to help emerging LGBTQ+ leaders harness their OutVANTAGE™ – the leadership strengths that come from their LGBTQ+ experience.

Meet the Speakers:

Noel Quinn – Former Group Chief Executive, HSBC
Ken Ohashi – CEO, Brooks Brothers
Jaymes Black – CEO, The Trevor Project
JJ Gantt – CEO, Barry’s Bootcamp
Tag Warner – CEO, Gay Times
Erika Irish Brown – Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Citi
Alexia Korberg – Partner, Paul Weiss
Anu Gupta – Founder & CEO, Be More
Brian Derrick – Founder, Oath.vote
Billy Porter – Grammy, Emmy & Tony-winning Actor, Singer, Performer
Cindy Ouellet – Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball Player
and more to be announced!

Registration is limited to Out Leadership members through the Out Leadership Member Portal.

Tuesday, September 10th & Wednesday, September 11th
New York City

We can’t wait to see you there!

Proud Sponsor: Citi
Sponsored by: RBC Capital Markets

08/22/2024

Florida’s official tourism site, Visit Florida, has quietly removed its LGBTQ+ travel page, which previously highlighted the state’s LGBTQ-friendly beaches, Pride events, and more. The page’s disappearance coincides with Florida’s rank of 37th on the 2024 Out Leadership State LGBTQ+ Climate Index, underscoring the state’s deteriorating environment for LGBTQ+ rights under Republican-led policies.

These restrictive policies are driving significant economic consequences, as families seek inclusive environments elsewhere. Additionally, top educators and students are leaving the state, leading to a brain drain in its universities, while businesses and conferences withdraw investments, resulting in over $1 billion in economic losses and further threatening the state’s financial health.

***an

08/01/2024

Following on to our employee lifecycle panel discussion at the 2024 Out Leadership Europe Summit, NEXUS in collaboration with Out Leadership are proud to announce a new white paper entitled “The LGBTQ+ Employee Lifecycle: What’s Missing?”

This white paper is intended to support Employee Resource Group leaders and other LGBTQ+ champions in your organizations to have strategic conversations with HR teams, executive sponsors, and business leaders to identify and prioritise currently less-discussed opportunities to achieve better outcomes for your LGBTQ+ workforce.

Access the full white paper at https://loom.ly/gyvgIEM

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07/24/2024

Vice President Kamala Harris is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for President.

But her record on LGBTQ+ rights didn't just fall out of a coconut tree. Here is some of the context of all in which she lived and what came before:

As a district attorney, she established a hate crimes unit to protect LGBTQ+ youth and coordinated prosecutors into a nationwide pushback against the so-called "gay panic" defense.

As Attorney General, Harris refused to defend California's Proposition 8, which reversed the legalization of same-sex marriage in the state. Her refusal to defend the provision directly contributed to its eventual demise at the Supreme Court in Hollingsworth v. Perry, where the Court ruled the petitioners had not suffered a "concrete and particularized injury" as a result of gay marriages and therefore had no standing to defend the ballot initiative. After Proposition 8 was definitively struck down, Harris personally ordered county clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses.

As a United States Senator, she spearheaded a bill that would eventually mandate insurance coverage for PrEP, the HIV-prevention method.

Harris

07/22/2024

You think money falls out of coconut trees? 🥥🌴

The Context: Democrats hit a jaw-dropping fundraising milestone, on track to collect $100 million in donations since President Joe Biden announced he would not seek a second term in office.

The total far eclipses the $52 million raised by former President Trump after his felony conviction.

Kamala Harris boasts a strong record on LGBTQ+ rights. As Attorney General of California she refused to defend Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that halted same-sex marriage in the state just months after they first began.

As of 1pm ET, Act Blue data showed Harris had raised $93.6 million.

07/18/2024

The United Kingdom's new leadership has committed to banning the dangerous and medically-repudiated practice of conversion therapy, according to the priorities outlined at the State Opening of Parliament.

The previous Conservative government also claimed it would ban the harmful practice, but failed to do so as it was embroiled in debate over issues of gender identity.

Under Conservative leadership, the National Health Service began offering conflicting assessments regarding LGBTQ+ healthcare. For instance, the NHS banned the use of puberty blockers in trans children while continuing to recommend the medication for cisgender children experiencing precocious puberty.

07/17/2024

Nigerian civil society ignited after the government signed the $150 billion Samoa Agreement on June 28th over allegations the treaty would require the West African nation to soften its stance on LGBTQ+ rights.

Anti-LGBTQ+ hardlines accused the government of devaluing the moral character of the country to obtain foreign loans. The Nigerian government, after extensive review, assured critics that the Agreement does not violate any current laws or constitutional provisions in Nigeria.

The recent fervor over the law has encouraged newfound hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community in Nigeria, where homosexuality is punishable by life in prison.

Out Leadership's Country CEO Business Briefs ensure that employees who do business in-country are aware of the laws and other regulations that impact LGBTQ+ people and that they've adopted the appropriate internal policies for their location. They equip business leaders and policymakers with a clear sense of the most impactful steps countries can take to make themselves more hospitable to forward-thinking, innovative, inclusive businesses. Learn more at outleadership.com

07/17/2024

In the United Kingdom, the Labour Party won a whopping 411 seats in snap elections held on July 4th. Today, King Charles will preside over the State Opening of Parliament and deliver the King's Speech, outlining the Keir Starmer-led government objectives for the new legislative session.

07/16/2024

As the GOP attempts to strike a unifying tone at the Republican National Convention following last week's assassination attempt against former President Donald J. Trump, Republicans tap a Peter Thiel-backed, far-right political newcomer to join the Presidential ticket.

Sen. JD Vance opposes the Respect for Marriage Act, which aims to protect the right of marriage equality in the United States. He also is a staunch opponent of abortion and gender-affirming care.