WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of America’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, in partnership with IBM, the world’s largest information technology employer, is launching a two-week, five-country series of business workshops across Latin America to promote LGBT workplace inclusion. The forums will bring together hundreds of corporate leaders and civil society stakeholders to bolster greater LGBT inclusion in Colombia, Chile, Peru, Argentina and Mexico, building off the success of HRC’s in-country programs in Mexico, Equidad MX: Programa Global de Equidad Laboral and Chile, Equidad CL: Programa Global de Equidad Laboral,

“As HRC expands its partnerships across the Americas, we are excited to join IBM in these meetings of Latin and global businesses where we will be sharing strategies for best practices and, most importantly, developing actionable steps to create more welcoming and inclusive workplaces for LGBT employees,” said Deena Fidas, HRC Director of HRC Equidad MX and HRC Foundation’s Workplace Equality Program. “Through this initiative, we are exploring new opportunities to expand our efforts to raise the level of LGBT engagement across the Americas.”

“Promoting talent and inclusive workplaces for all employees is an intrinsic part of our corporate values. Our long-standing commitment to LGBT equality has paved the way to expand these efforts across borders,” said Tony Tenicela, IBM Global Leader, Marketplace Diversity and Workforce Engagement Services. “When we incorporate inclusive policies and practices into our business, we create opportunities for employees to achieve their full potential. IBM is proud to provide a workplace environment where employees are free to be who they are and we are especially proud to serve as models for diversity and inclusion for employers across Latin America.”

Bolstered by the partnership with IBM and with the support of Pride Connection chapters, the preeminent international group of LGBT committed employers, the HRC Workplace Equality Program business workshops will bring together a diverse group of experts to discuss LGBT-inclusive trends and the economic impact of workplace inclusion in the region. The program will also be providing new Spanish-language business resources to help corporate leaders train employers and build LGBT-inclusive environments.

Earlier this year, the HRC Workplace Equality Program successfully launched two in-country surveys in Mexico and Chile evaluating LGBT inclusion among large employers and multinationals. HRC’s Equidad MX and Equidad CL use a business assessment model based on HRC’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the premier benchmarking tool on corporate LGBTQ policies and practices in the United States, to evaluate and promote LGBT workplace inclusion.

HRC’s Latin American engagement connects key leaders and major employers to advance an internal economic case for LGBT workplace inclusion and develop strategies to achieve a long-lasting regional impact. Through HRC’s Workplace Equality Program and the CEI, the HRC Foundation has established LGBT-inclusive guidelines, business toolkits and resources to promote LGBT inclusion in businesses around the world.

HRC is proud to join with IBM, Pride Connection and partner organizations to kick off its series of business workshops in the following cities:

             May 16 – Bogotá, Colombia

May 18 – Santiago, Chile

May 21 – Lima, Peru

May 23 – Buenos Aires, Argentina and;

May 25 – Mexico City, Mexico

For more information on HRC’s Workplace Equality Program in Mexico and Chile or to access HRC’s Spanish-language business resources, please visit hrc.im/equidadMX and hrc.im/equidadCL.

 The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people. HRC envisions a world where LGBTQ people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

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