Invitation to Participate in Engagement in a Time of Telework 2020 Photography Contest

Photo of  three kids making a frame with their hands.

The OEEOD Diversity Program’s Photography Contest Subcommittee invites you to enter your best two-dimensional photograph into the April 2020 Engagement in the Time of Telework Photography Contest! Appropriate subject matter may include the following:
• Home office set-up or photo of someone/you working
• Homeschool set-up or your children learning
• In-home date night
• Before and After shot of a home improvement project
• Nature (photo from your garden, a walk, etc.)
• Staycation
• Home work out
Click here to see rules and how to enter!

LGBTQ Employment Rights Going To Court This Summer

The Supreme Court will soon hand down its ruling on a trio of cases that will determine whether LGBTQ employees are protected from discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

This Summer, Out & Equal worked in coalition to bring together 206 major businesses on an amicus brief to the Supreme Court. The companies that signed on collectively represent more than 7 million employees and more than $5 trillion in revenue. Together, we sent the message that discrimination is not just wrong, it is also bad for businesses.

When the court delivers its ruling, it will decide:

• Whether Title VII prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (SO); and,
• Whether Title VII prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity (GI).

The decision could fall generally into 4 scenarios, each with unique implications for our collective work:

  1. Win SO & Win GI
  2. Win SO & Lose GI
  3. Lose SO & Win GI
  4. Lose SO & Lose GI

I invite you to a briefing call this coming Thursday to learn more about these scenarios before the Supreme Court decision is released. This is a great opportunity for you to get ahead of the curve and start figuring out what actions you will want to take after a decision comes down.

Thursday, March 19th 4:00pm-5:00pm Eastern Daylight Time

RSVP for the Briefing Call

No matter what the court rules, we know that the business community will have an essential role to play going forward. There are critical gaps in civil rights protections for LGBTQ Americans that will remain even if the Supreme Court accepts our position. The Equality Act – the omnibus federal civil rights bill passed by the House of Representatives last spring – remains the best vehicle to close these gaps.

Out & Equal has remained in close touch with our coalition partners at the Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, Freedom for All Americans, and Out Leadership. We have been thinking together about the different possible decisions by the Supreme Court and what the role of the business community would be in each instance. With you, our partners, we are strategizing for a more inclusive future.

Transgender Day of Visibility Employer’s Resources

Celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility. Out & Equal.

March 31st is Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) – a day where communities come together to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of transgender and gender non-conforming people. With TDOV less than a month away, I am reaching out to share with you a resource to help your organization participate and engage in this day of celebration. This resource should be a helpful tool for your organization’s year-round internal efforts for transgender inclusion and help guide your external communications around TDOV.  

Pride Night Out at the Wizards

Washington Wizards Pride Night

Pride Night OUT at the Wizards vs. Chicago Bulls!
Friday, March 6th, 2020.

Tickets only $25 each!
Contact Team DC HERE if you want tickets!

Special Guests: The Gay Men’s Chorus will sing the National Anthem!
Ticket includes a Pride giveaway item (TBA). Team DC will host a pregame party in the Devil’s Backbone Lounge starting at 6 PM. Join us for a GREAT Pride Night OUT!

Caps Night Out

Team DC Pride Night Out Capitals vs. Ottawa Senators
Tuesday, January 7, at 7 PM, Capital One Arena
Tickets just $55 each!

Get your Team DC Pride Night OUT tickets HERE and you will receive the exclusive All Caps Rainbow Flag (pictured) with each ticket purchased! These flags will only be available with tickets bought through this link or on the special Caps website which offers different seating options around the arena. The specific Team DC section will be all grouped together. Team DC is planning on a pre-game happy hour with the site TBD.

And for the remainder of the Caps season use this link to avoid all fees and get a free Caps shirt with your ticket.

Lambda Holiday Lunch

Join us on our last lunch of the year to celebrate accomplishments and talk challenges as the holidays approach! On December 19th, 2019 at noon, we’ll gather at Sumo Hibachi & Sushi restaurant for a nice social lunch with our Lambda friends. We’ll discuss the result of this year’s elections, our past year events and the road ahead for Lambda PTO.

RSVP by this Friday, December 13th so we can make reservations and fit everyone in!

Count me in! Click to RSVP

Remembering Johnny

Dr. Johnny F Railey II, a longtime friend of Lambda PTO, died peacefully on 10 October 2019. Johnny was surrounded by his family Todd, Brad, and Devon.

Johnny was proud of his many scholastic accomplishments attending the University of Georgia and Emory University including later post-doctoral research in virology. Johnny applied himself just as studiously to the US Patent & Trademark Office working as an examiner in group 1600 biotechnology. His extraordinary knowledge made him the best qualified for some of the most complicated and difficult virology cases. Recognizing his ability, he was promoted to the Office of Patent Quality Review (as it was known at the time). He later moved to the Central Reexamination Unit where his knowledge and skills were put to good use in a post-grant review. Johnny worked on some of the most technologically challenging and valuable patents which were reviewed in the reexamination and reissue process. Johnny was an extraordinary asset to the USPTO. His death is a great loss to this office. Johnny credited his momentum and drive in school to his parents and grandmother.

While Johnny would want to be remembered for his brilliant mind, and he certainly accomplished many great things, I remember Johnny for his wit and dark humor, his nicknames for people, his fiery politics and his very funny stories. Johnny had an extraordinary vintage typewriter collection which he referred to as “the children.”  Johnny is remembered today for his great intellect and accomplishments, but I remember him as my friend whose company I always looked forward to sharing.

Johnny’s Remembrance Memorial will be at River Farm, 7931 E. Boulevard Dr., Alexandria, VA 22308 on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at 11AM. To prepare for how many people might attend the celebration of his life, please let Marianne Pandozzi, Jean Witz or Mark Reinhart know if you will attend.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dr. Johnny F. Railey, II, to any of the following charities:

Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, Al 36104
Fed Tax ID 63-0598743

Humane Society of Fairfax County, Inc.
4057 Chain Bridge Rd.
Fairfax, VA 22030
Fed Tax ID 54-6064956

Inova Heart and Vascular Institute—
Greatest Need Fund
8110 Gatehouse Road
Suite 200 East
Falls Church, VA 22042
Fed Tax ID 54-1071867