Page 13 - BEQ Magazine Vol2 Iss4 V2
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Thane F . Walker, Lead Consultant, HR Technology   Mark Esfehani, Vendor Management Mgr, Denver, CO .  Ginger L . Chien, Lead Member, Technical Staff,
        Keller, TX .                                                                Bellevue, WA .


        The 5th annual AT&T Live Proud campaign invites the LGBT community and its allies to celebrate self-expression, to live with pride, and to
        exemplify this year’s theme, “We Are Bold.” This “We Are Bold” theme encourages the LGBT community and its allies to share affirming
        messages of freedom, confidence and unity as we honor the community’s achievements and look ahead. “We Are Bold” recognizes the power
        of being authentically you and the importance of living with pride. This year, members of LEAGUE at AT&T (celebrating 30 years in 2017), the
        LGBT employee resource group, star in the campaign. They share inspiring stories about being out and proud at work and being bold in life.








        • Designation by HRC as Best   to adopt a policy prohibiting   the goal of winning  awards  or   serve—women, African Americans,
           Places to work for LGBTQ   discrimination against employees   accolades, we are pleased when we   Asian Americans, Hispanics/
           Equality                 based on sexual orientation. In   are recognized, because it validates   Latinos, Native Americans,
        • Corporation of the Year from   1998, AT&T adopted one of the   our belief that we are doing the   LGBTQ employees, employees
           the National Gay & Lesbian   first domestic partner benefits   right  things. Earlier  this year,   with disabilities, veterans, young
           Chamber of Commerce      programs for LGBTQ employees.   Diversity Inc. ranked us #3 on its   professionals and experienced
        • Tyler Clementi Foundation   In 2006, we were one of the   list of the  Top 50 Companies for   career professionals. There
           Upstander Legacy         first U.S. corporations to offer   Diversity. It’s the 17th straight year   are more than 112,000 ERG
           Celebration Honoree      transgender-inclusive health care   we’ve been listed in the to 50 and   memberships. Our ERG program
        • Member of the Billion Dollar   benefits. In 2015, AT&T was   the  fourth straight  year  in the  top   is the envy of many companies.
           Roundtable (inclusive of   one of hundreds of employers   10. That’s a sign we are doing many   Every year, our national ERG
           LGBTQ procurement spend)   who signed onto a “friends of the   things right.     conference books up completely
        • Cyndi Lauper and the True   court” brief at the U.S. Supreme                      in minutes. This past September,
           Colors Fund working to end   Court to support the business case   ML: Tell us a little about what’s   we had more than 2,000 ERG
           LGBTQ youth homelessness   for marriage equality. There’s a   happening within AT&T that’s   members in the largest meeting
                                    common theme to these: We mean   reflected with these external   room the Hilton Anatole Hotel in
        What’s driving these and    it when we say everyone should be   results.            Dallas had available. They heard
        other AT&T indicators and   treated equally.                                        from many of our company’s
        demonstrations of excellence?   Behind that  commitment is, as   CA: AT&T’s ERG program is a   senior leaders about AT&T’s
                                    mentioned, a commitment from the   good example of an area where   strategy and how diversity informs
        CA: It’s about respect for all   senior leadership of AT&T. Valuing   we continue to excel. We have 12   every part of what we do.
        individuals. That’s been the case   diversity is not a new phenomenon   ERGs that represent just about   Keep in mind that  these
        for quite some time. In 1975,   here. It has been embedded in our   every community represented   employees are paying  their  own
        AT&T became one of the first   culture for quite some time.  by our employees, and they also   way  to travel  to the  conference.
        major American corporations    While we don’t set out with   represent the communities we   But AT&T made the decision some






        BEQ PRIDE                                                                                    December 2017 | 13
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