Walt Disney World hosted the Out & Equal Equality Institute last week, designed to fostering an inclusive workplace for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) employees. Approximately 600 Business leaders from over 300 companies attended the day-long seminar held at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace equality. The group works with Fortune 1000 companies and government agencies to provide a safe, welcoming and supportive environment for LGBT employees; The Walt Disney Company is a presenting partner.
Attendees listened to a variety of corporate executives share their personal and professional coming out stories, and, in some cases, how they were able to improve their companies’ policies for LGBT employees. Walt Disney World Resort President George Kalogridis, who also serves on Out & Equal’s board of directors, provided the event’s opening remarks. Kalogridis is Disney World’s first openly gay president.
Last week’s session was a condensed version of Out & Equal’s annual Workplace Summit, a mutli-day conference that sees several thousand attendees gather for educational opportunities covering workplace equality. This year’s Summit will be held in Dallas this October; the 2016 event will be hosted by Walt Disney World at several resorts across property.
