2010 Out & Equal Advocacy Award to be presented to ally and renowned civil rights leader Julian Bond at third-annual Leadership Celebration

NEW YORK CITY – Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is proud to present its third-annual Leadership Celebration on April 21, 2010 at the Le Parker Meridien in New York City, where it will give the 2010 Out & Equal Advocacy Award to vocal ally and renowned civil rights leaders Julian Bond.

Out & Equal each year honors corporations and individuals whose courage in supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality beyond the workplace is unsurpassed by others, presenting them with the prestigious Advocacy Award at the celebration.

"We're privileged to honor Mr. Bond, who has helped lead the movement for social change since 1960 — whether it was as a student nonviolently fighting for justice, as a member of the Georgia State House of Representatives or his leadership of the NAACP," said Out & Equal Founding Executive Director Selisse Berry. "He has been an outspoken supporter of LGBT equality, standing beside us and speaking up for us for decades."

This event is more significant than ever as the LGBT equality movement is on the verge of making history, with movement being made toward the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

Nearly 200 people, including the highest-ranking LGBT corporate leaders from the nation's largest corporations, will be on hand to honor Mr. Bond.

·        Who: Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
·        What: Leadership Celebration and Advocacy Award
·        When: April 21, 2010
·        Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. reception; 7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. dinner, with humorist Kate Clinton
·        Where: Le Parker Meridien New York - 119 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019
·        Contact: J. Erik Olvera - Eolvera@outandequal.org or 415-694-6512

Press Contact: Associate Director of Marketing & Communications, J. Erik Olvera, 415-694-6512 or eolvera@outandequal.org

In addition to the Leadership Celebration, Out & Equal offers a wide range of programs and services to promote LGBT workplace equality. Upcoming programs include 2010 Out & Equal Workplace Summit — the world's premier conference on LGBT workplace equality — Oct. 5-8 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.