Publisher’s Note – December 2016

The Business Equality Network family stands in solidarity with the allies of the under-represented, under-served and disenfranchised that include racial, religious, and ethnic minorities, women, disabled and LGBTQ+ communities committed to equality for ALL.

With great pride, this issue includes our inaugural LGBTQ Business Equality Excellence Award to 107 organizations that demonstrate excellence in leadership through their inclusive workplace, workforce, marketplace and supply chain initiatives. Until there are federal laws mandating the protection of LGBTQ rights and freedoms across the nation, the Business Equality Excellence Award and icon are a visible symbol that these organizations stand for equality for their employees, customers, suppliers and partners. Congratulations on this amazing achievement.

Also in this issue of BEQ Pride, we are All. In. with PG&E one of our Business Equality Excellence awardees. As they close out the year with a 14th consecutive perfect score with HRC’s coveted designation as one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality”, NGLCC’s 2016 “Corporation of the Year” and on pace to double their 2015 diverse spend of $2.5B during 2016, we take a moment to reflect on their accomplishments while sharing their view of how important technology will be in shaping their supplier engagement in the future.

Like PG&E, Bristol-Myers Squibb is among our inaugural BEQ Business Equality 2017 Awardees and they too have much to celebrate. Rondu Vincent, Director of Supplier Diversity within Global Procurement, scored the “Oscar of Supplier Diversity” as NGLCC’s “2016 Advocate of the Year”. Bristol-Myers Squibb won’t be resting on these laurels as 2017 includes even more diverse supplier and community engagement.

Business Equality Excellence Awardee AT&T and the Tyler Clementi Foundation collaborated to bring students from 24 schools nationwide to New York City for the first ever Cyberbullying Film Invitational as part of the 2016 All American High School Film Festival. Corporate support in elevating the conversation around the bullying epidemic to a national level is still another example of corporate leadership in diversity and inclusion.

BEQ Pride and the entire BEQ family are committed to using our platforms to strengthen the collective voice of the diverse business community and the vast network of supporting organizations and government agencies. Now, more than ever, we appeal to our audience and partners to lead through your actions in 2017 to ensure:

• fair and equal employment opportunities;
• safe, harassment-free and inclusive work environments;
• transparent, equitable and exploitation-free markets within our communities and around the world;
• an increased support of inclusive sourcing opportunities that are the lifeblood of our communities; and
• continued philanthropic support of our community and advocacy based non-profit organizations

Onward and upward in 2017!

Robin
Publisher, BEQ Pride
Founder, Business Equality Network