Welcome
Welcome to LGBTQ+ Leadership Education Institute
Let's make our community a better place!
About Us
WHAT WE DO
Our Mission is to address and educate to eliminate prejudice and discrimination against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community and gender non-conforming populations in California. We provide education by conducting seminars and lectures, and by disseminating educational information to elected and appointed local and state government officials. We conduct research and partner with other organizations, conducting research for educational purposes consistent with the goals of eradicating prejudice and discrimination. We collaborate with other non-profit organizations which fall under the 501(c) (3) section of the Internal Revenue code and are operated exclusively for education and charitable purposes.
OUTREACH & EDUCATION
A main thrust of the LGBTQ+ LEI since 2016 has been the production and updates of "Transgender in the Workplace: A Guide for Municipalities". The guide was the brainchild of the Leadership Institute's first President, Larry Forrester, and was developed through collaboration among several city leaders and LGBTQ organizations, including the League of California Cities LGBTQ Caucus. This resource book contains information about road maps, best practices, and recent changes to laws and regulations regarding gender diverse individuals. Used as a tool to implement good public policy for current or future transgender and gender non-conforming employees, in 2019, every State of California legislator and each of the 482 city governments were presented with copies of the guide. The most recent update to the guide, now titled "Gender Diversity in the Workplace: A Guide for Municipalities" is being released in June, 2022.
WHY OUR WORK IS SO IMPORTANT
A Message from our President:
Our world is evolving rapidly and municipalities that respond to these changes will start to recognize much bigger opportunities in front of them: a chance to create products and experiences for a growing body of constituents that no longer buy into the traditional concepts of gender and the stereotypical classifications attached to it. This guide is meant to start a conversation to assess the structural barriers in public policies, institutional practices, cultural representations and other norms that work in various, often reinforcing ways to perpetuate inequality and ineffective city governments. Many of California's 482 incorporated cities have limited resources to support an inclusive workplace environment and develop best practices in compliance with state laws to prevent discrimination and/or harassment for LGBTQ+ employees. Failing to prevent discrimination and/or harassment increases a city’s risk and exposure for potential litigation which may result in an unsafe and unwelcoming working atmosphere. Cities can be so much more successful if they embrace diversity within their governments and encourage it in their local businesses. Our goal is to educate and advocate in order to enhance the quality of life for all Californians. Ethical and well-informed city officials are essential for responsive, visionary leadership and for effective and efficient city operations. As LGBTQ+ people continue to increase in visibility nationwide, city leaders, whether elected or appointed, must champion an inclusive city government and assure that City Hall is a hospitable workplace for them. Our guidebooks are a resource of road maps and best practices and we encourage you to use it as a tool to implement good public policy for your current or future LGBTQ+ employees. Whether your city adopts ordinances, develops human resources guidelines, and/or takes another route to transform the culture of the workplace, what is important is that each city invests in its future by implementing best practices and educating all staff on compliance with federal, state, and local anti-discrimination laws. We are inviting you to be bold with us and bravely and fearlessly charge into a re-envisioned future where all constituents regardless of race, sex, class, ability, gender identity, and gender expression can thrive, be safe, and prosper together.
President, LGBTQ+ Leadership Education Institute
