Creating an LGBTQ-Affirming Workplace

This session will explore the breadth of identities associated with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities, and how to create an affirming workplace for LGBTQ employees. Participants will increase their knowledge of culturally competent language and behavior, non-discrimination policies and practices, benefits plans including health insurance, restroom and changing room access, employee groups, advertising policy, and legal and policy issues that impact LGBTQ workers and their employers. We will explore LGBTQ-affirming practices, policies, and systems for creating an LGBTQ-affirming workplace, including how to increase productivity by creating a sense of belonging and equal treatment of employees, and avoid legal claims of LGBTQ-related discrimination. Interactive, solutions-oriented, and engaging, this webinar will provide opportunities for learning and problem solving at all knowledge levels. 

Objectives: 

Define terms, identities, and concepts associated with LGBTQ communities

Utilize culturally appropriate language and behavior for working with LGBTQ employees, and develop skills for apologizing appropriately when mistakes are made

• Identify key components of non-discrimination policies and practices
• Describe how to provide equal access to restrooms, changing rooms, and other gender-specific settings
• Outline steps for creating a Transition Plan to support a transitioning employee
• Describe LGBTQ-affirming benefits plans including health insurance 
• Identify legal and policy issues that impact LGBTQ employees and their employers
• Develop culturally competent best practices for working with LGBTQ and gender expansive employees and colleagues
   

• Terms, identities, and concepts
• Culturally competent language and behavior, and how to apologize appropriately when mistakes are made
• Legal rights of LGBTQ employees and legal responsibilities of employers
• Equal access to restrooms, changing rooms, and other gender-specific settings
• Non-discrimination policies and practices
• Employee benefits plans including health insurance
• LGBTQ employee groups
• LGBTQ-affirming advertising policy 
• Best practices for creating an LGBTQ-affirming workplace

Is your company trying to figure out how to support a transitioning employee or respond to complaints of mistreatment and discrimination? Do you want to encourage team-building and avoid legal claims of LGBTQ-related discrimination? Are you unsure about how to provide restroom access for LGBTQ individuals so that all employees feel comfortable and safe? Businesses of all sizes are creating affirming workplaces for LGBTQ employees by demonstrating equal treatment through affirming practices, policies, benefits plans, and employee groups. This webinar will help you identify legal parameters and develop skills for providing equal access and treatment for all employees.

• Human resources staff
• Company leadership such as administrators, directors, CEOs, and others
• Program managers
• Supervisors
• Front-line staff
• Service providers
• Allies of LGBTQ employees
• LGBTQ employees who want to know their rights in the workplace

Willy Wilkinson, MPH is an award-winning writer, public health consultant, cultural competency trainer, and public speaker who has been advocating for LGBTQ populations since the early days of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Over the past three decades, Willy has provided LGBTQ and trans-specific training for hundreds of community health organizations, educational institutions, and businesses. He is the author of the Lambda Literary Award-winning book Born on the Edge of Race and Gender: A Voice for Cultural Competency, which illuminates trans experience from a Chinese American and mixed heritage perspective, and transforms the memoir genre into a cultural competency tool. In his book, he provides organizational assessment tools for businesses to evaluate their LGBTQ cultural competency, and guidelines for systemically supporting LGBTQ individuals in the workplace. He has helped a number of companies, large and small, provide equal access to restrooms and changing rooms, support transitioning employees, and develop affirming practices and policies. Willy received a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies at UC Santa Cruz, and a Masters in Public Health from UC Berkeley. He is the recipient of a National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Award, and the Transgender Law Center Vanguard Award, and is recognized on the national Trans 100 list. He lives in Oakland, California with his three vibrant, young children.