First-ever Transgender Community Career Expo; Sept 14 in Atlanta

From HRC:

Career Expo -- Friday, Sept. 14, from 9 am to 5 pm in Atlanta

Washington -- Unemployment and under-employment continue to be two of the most significant issues facing transgender Americans today.  Despite this, companies that truly recognize the value of diversity are implementing innovative and inclusive policy specifically designed to support their transgender employees. Corporate America has been leading the way in providing visibility and support for the unique challenges that their transgender employees face each day. 

Representatives of approximately 20 major corporations that have implemented transgender supportive policy within their workplaces will participate in the first of its kind “Career Expo”, designed to both assist transgender workers with tips and strategies regarding employment as well as to provide a direct recruiting link between prospective employees and supportive companies.

WHAT: First-ever national Career Expo at Transgender Community Event

WHO: More than 20 major U.S. corporations & more than 1,000 transgender individuals.              Partial list of participating corporations include:  Alston & Bird LLC; American Airlines; Deloitte; Ernst & Young; Hewlett Packard; Intercontinental Hotel Group; JPMorganChase; Microsoft; New York Life; Powell Goldstein LLP; PriceWaterhouseCoopers; Sprint/NEXTEL; Turner Broadcasting.

Participating non-profit organizations include:  Human Rights Campaign (HRC is co-sponsoring the event), Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination (GLAAD); Lambda Legal Defense Foundation; National Gay/Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; National Center for Transgender Equality; and The Point Foundation

WHERE: 17th annual Southern Comfort Conference (SCC), Crowne Plaza Ravinia Hotel, 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Atlanta GA 30346 USA

WHEN: Career Expo is one day only: Friday, Sept. 14, from 9 am to 5 pm.
SCC is a four-day event held in Atlanta every fall. 2007 dates are Sept. 12-15.

BACKGROUND

Career Expo Overview

Transgender individuals have no federal civil rights employment protection – they can be fired without cause for simply coming out – whether they are transsexual and intending to transition, non-operative transsexuals (or TGs) simply changing gender roles, periodic crossdressers whose gender-variant behavior is invisible in the workplace, or simply persons born female whose appearance and behavior are considered too masculine or persons born male who are judged too effeminate.

Discrimination impacts trans-people in all areas of their life – housing, parenting, medical care, legal status – but catastrophic loss of employment, seniority and health benefits is the single most common, and devastating, setback that may transpeople face when they come out. It’s a life-altering barrier that keeps the majority of trans people in the closet.

“History will be made,” said Kristin Reichman, SCC Board Member and coordinator of the Career Expo. “Representatives of national corporations will talk to transgender individuals about their company’s trans-inclusive EEO (equal employment opportunity) policies. These companies are showing their support for the trans community and will themselves be learning about the impressive talent pool that other, less progressive employers, have abandoned.”

The Career Expo is co-sponsored by Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest educational foundation and lobbying organization that works on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (lgbt) Americans. Donna Rose, an HRC board member who is also transgender, helped organize the Expo. “Though it’s not a job fair, the Career Expo will represent the first time ever that corporate America has reached out to transgender individuals, many of whom face financial ruin when they come out or are outed involuntarily,” says Rose. “All of the participating companies are ranked as 100% in HRC’s equal employment index.”

HRC publishes the annual index, which ranks corporations based upon a number of criteria, especially including explicit non-discrimination employment policies regarding race, disability, sexuality and gender and/or perceived gender. Every company listed in the index offers insurance and other benefits to domestic partners and some have begun to offer insurance coverage that pays for gender reassignment treatment.

All of the companies supporting the Career Expo at SCC are listed on HRC Equality Index, and many are making financial contributions to support Southern Comfort Conference as well.

Southern Comfort Conference Background

The Southern Comfort Conference, held each fall in Atlanta, has grown to be the Amerca’s largest annual gathering of the transgender community.

At this year’s 17th annual event, transpeople, their loved ones and helping professionals will find support, information and friends in a welcoming atmosphere of Southern hospitality. The SCC schedule is jam-packed with educational seminars, speeches and performances by prominent (and emerging) leaders in the community, as well as celebratory banquets, receptions and parties. SCC is a unique community building event, educational conference and trans-pride celebration all wrapped together.

Daytimes at SCC are given over to an extensive program of informative seminars, off-site excursions and group luncheons that feature entertaining and provocative presentations from the leadership of the transgender community.

The daytime schedule of seminars reflects Southern Comfort’s sincere commitment to serve the diverse needs of the trans community — from basic information for the newly-out, to detailed legal, medical and political presentations, and informative sessions on family relationships, sexuality and spirituality. Evenings are given over to celebration, and the gathering of the transgender clan at SCC is always a festive affair.

Southern Comfort prides itself on being an all-inclusive conference. Whatever your connection to the transgender community - whether you are transsexual, a cross dresser or in between; spouse, partner or family member; straight, gay, bi or omni-sexual; post-op, pre-op or non-op; young or old; married or single; FtM or MtF; or of any variance — if transgender is an issue in your life, you are welcome at Southern Comfort Conference.