October 19 at 3:30 p.m. PDT/6:30 p.m. EDT

Despite business community support and growing social acceptance of LGBTQ+ Americans, discrimination persists. For good reasons, corporate America is an essential and powerful ally for the LGBTQ+ community in its pursuit of equality: It's the right thing to do, and the business case calls for it. Inclusive company culture is critical for attracting and retaining talent, and studies have shown clear financial and stock performance benefits. Research also indicates that countries with discriminatory policies may forgo 1 percent or more of GDP. Beyond internal policies, corporate allies can influence legislation such as the Equality Act that would ensure federal-level non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. On this panel, business leaders and advocates will discuss the path forward and the public and private sector's role in advancing equality for the LGBTQ+ community.

This session will be hosted in Citi Terrace | Elevating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Moderator

Richard Ditizio
President and Chief Operating Officer, Milken Institute

Speakers

Brickson Diamond
Consultant, Spencer Stuart

Sarah Kate Ellis
President and CEO, GLAAD

Tony Hoang
Executive Director, Equality California

Fred Hochberg
Former Chairman and President, Export-Import Bank of the United States

Vivienne Ming
CEO and Co-Founder, Socos Labs