The march offering of the LGBTQ A-Z Mentorship Program is in full bloom! During our last coaching call, one of the participants requested simple strategies that can be implemented today to cultivate a LGBTQ inclusive workplace. I loved the question, and wanted to expand upon the response I offered on the call here. So without further ado, included below are 7 basic actions everyone from senior leaders to front line staff can take to demonstrate a true commitment to respecting LGBTQ people at work.

Are you thinking about how to fit LGBTQ people and perspectives into your workplace’s diversity & inclusion framework? If so, who are you turning to for support? Are you simply relying on your colleagues, or are you determined to bootstrap your own solutions? Have you arrived at a place where you are now seeking proven solutions that don’t break the bank, and connects you to a community of like-minded professionals? If you’re struggling with answering these questions, look no further. The LGBTQ A-Z Certification will deliver affordable solutions, and increase your confidence in implementing proven diversity & inclusion interventions. Watch this free webinar all about the program, http://www.rhodesperry.com/webinar, and then enroll by visiting, www.rhodesperry.com/mentorship.

Today marks the official launch of The Out Entrepreneur, a weekly Podcast where I have the privilege of connecting with some of today’s most authentic LGBTQ entrepreneurs. The show was created for the LGBTQ entrepreneur, business owner, or start-up founder, and the conversations are intended to inspire the next generation of out bosses. Each podcast episode runs around 25 minutes, offers actionable advice, and introduces listeners to some of the 1.4 million LGBTQ entrepreneurs crushing it in business, all while bringing their whole selves to work. Guests reflect upon the ups-and-the-downs of building their business, all in an effort to inspire fellow bosses to take action, and unapologetically be authentic, 100% of the time.

On Friday, January 27 at 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern, RPC will offer a FREE live webinar for those interested in learning more about the LGBTQ A-Z Certification mentorship program. This program offers proven and affordable solutions to help executive, HR, and diversity professionals more effectively engage LGBTQ talent, markets, and suppliers within four weeks. Professionals interested in learning more about this program are encouraged to register for the FREE live webinar today. Those that participate on the live webinar will be eligible for a 10% enrollment discount. The LGBTQ A-Z Certification begins on Monday, March 6 and participation is limited to the first 20 people.

This post is for executive, HR, and diversity professionals struggling to effectively engage LGBTQ people in meaningful ways, comply with existing non-discrimination laws, and implement workplace policies that attract top talent and new customers. It details The LGBTQ A-Z Certification, a mentorship program that offers proven and affordable solutions to address these challenges within four weeks. Professionals interested in learning more about this program are encouraged to register for a FREE live webinar on Friday, January 27 at 11:00 am/2:00 pm. In advance, participants are encouraged to share their opinion about the type of mentorship they desire here. The LGBTQ A-Z Certification begins on Monday, March 6 and participation is limited to the first 20 people.

In 2017, RPC will mentor more change agents to build inclusive workplaces, and offer support to fellow LGBTQ people interested in taking the entrepreneurial leap. To accomplish these goals, RPC will offer The LGBTQ A-Z Certification in March, a program designed to support executive, HR, and diversity professionals by offering everything needed to lead on equity & inclusion in the workplace. Those interested in learning more about the program are encouraged to register for a FREE live webinar scheduled for January 27 at 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern Time. And for those LGBTQ folks interested in learning more about taking the entrepreneurial leap, subscribe to The Out Entrepreneur, a weekly podcast hosted by Rhodes Perry intended to connect listeners to some of the 1.4 million out bosses crushing it in business.

On this darkest day of the year, it’s hard not to think about the growing tidal wave of fear and uncertainty threatening to crash down upon marginalized communities like immigrants, people of color, women, LGBTQ folks, and those living at the intersections. For LGBTQ people, 82 percent believe that “day-to-day life is likely to get worse” in the United States as a result of the Presidential elections. The lack of inclusive federal workplace protections leaves 52% of the LGBTQ population vulnerable to being fired on the basis of who they are, or who they love. Despite these grim realities, progressive workplaces offer critical sanctuaries for LGBTQ people in some of the most hostile parts of the country. This post offers several strategies for businesses to expand these sanctuaries. To learn more, subscribe to the RPC newsletter, and gain additional strategies to transform yourself and your workplace.

The 2016 Presidential Campaign Season has officially ended, and with it, so has the world as we know it. For diversity professionals, we have the unique challenge of addressing the Pandora’s Box of hate-inspired messages opened by the Trump/Pence Presidential Campaign. The opening of this Pandora’s Box has specifically emboldened certain segments of the public to legitimize their fear, hatred, and anger towards women, immigrants, people of color, disabled people, and LGBTQ people. This post offers a source of support for diversity professionals, and encourages those interested to subscribe to the RPC quarterly newsletter, and be the first to learn about new tools, courses, and strategies to continue transforming ourselves and our organizations to be more equitable and inclusive.

The TEAMS Transformation Method supplies new timber to build inclusive workplaces that welcome LGBTQ talent, and appeal to LGBTQ markets. This post outlines the process, and shares an opportunity for executive, HR, and diversity professionals to gain the skills needed to complete the first step of this method. The webinar is scheduled for Thursday, December 1 at 2:00 pm ET/11:00 am PT. Participants who register before November 1 will save $50. Once registered, participants will receive a pre-work activity, and an optional 30 minutes coaching session following the training. Be sure to register today by visiting: http://www.rhodesperry.com/teamsregister.

In honor of National Coming Out Day, I’m offering an early-bird registration special of $97 for my next webinar hosted on Thursday, December 1 at 11:00 am Pacific/2:00 pm Eastern Time. The webinar will support executive, HR, and diversity professionals interested in gaining skills, receiving mentorship, and being held accountable to develop a clear LGBTQ diversity and inclusion vision. During the live event, participants have the opportunity to share their ideas, challenges, and solutions when it comes to crafting a clear LGBTQ diversity & inclusion vision intended to create more welcoming workplaces. The webinar special also includes a pre-work activity, and an optional coaching call following the training. The special discount rate will be honored for all who register before November 1. You can secure your discount rate, and save $50 by registering here. The registration fee will increase to $147 after Monday, October 31.

The future of work relies on how skillfully employers manage change. When changes in the workplace increases, employees may experience resistance that can impede desired workplace transformations. This post offers six approaches employers can adopt to support their employees overcome resistance, and instead embrace the attitudes, behaviors, and skills needed for successful and speedy implementation. It is the fifth and final post of a five-part blog series detailing my consultancy’s TEAMS Transformation Method™, a unique branded system designed for executive, HR, and diversity professionals ready to transform their big ideas about LGBTQ diversity & inclusion into actionable plans that deliver results. After reading this post, be sure to save your seat for my consultancy’s next live webinar where this topic will be further explored.

LGBTQ workers can still be fired in 30 states simply for who they are, or who they love. Fortunately, a growing number of employers are taking the initiative to develop their own LGBTQ non-discrimination policies to protect these workers. This post is specifically written for executives eager to translate these policies into lasting culture change. It is the fourth of a five-part blog series detailing my consultancy’s TEAMS Transformation Method™, a unique branded system designed for executive, HR, and diversity professionals ready to transform their big ideas about LGBTQ diversity & inclusion into actionable plans. After reading this post, be sure to save your seat for tomorrow’s Q&A webinar where this topic will be further explored.

Believing that your workplace culture is 100% welcoming and inclusive of LGBTQ employees is a sure sign that your business may have a few significant blind spots. This post is specifically written for executives willing to identify those blind spots by assessing their workplace culture, establishing a diversity & inclusion baseline, and developing aggressive benchmarks to transform the existing culture. The post is the third of a five-part series detailing my consultancy’s TEAMS Transformation Method™, a unique branded system designed for executives, HR, and diversity professionals ready to transform their big ideas about LGBTQ diversity & inclusion into actionable plans. After reading this post, be sure to save your seat for the 9/22 Q&A webinar where this topic will be further explored.

Executives sometimes face resistance when it comes to motivating and inspiring their leadership teams to embrace LGBTQ diversity & inclusion as a global business strategy. This post is written for these executives by offering several strategies to cultivate and empower leadership teams to enthusiastically implement LGBTQ diversity and inclusion business strategies. The post is the second of a five-part series detailing my consultancy’s TEAMS Transformation Method™, a unique branded system designed for executives, HR, and diversity professionals ready to transform their big ideas about LGBTQ diversity & inclusion into actionable plans. After reading it, be sure to save your seat for a Q&A webinar where this topic will be further explored.

For those exceptional leaders eager to fine tune their LGBTQ diversity & inclusion vision, look no further! This post shares a glimpse of the first step of the TEAMS Transformation Method™, a unique branded system my firm developed for executives, HR, and diversity professionals ready to transform their big ideas about LGBTQ diversity and inclusion into an executable plan. Read more about five strategies necessary to fine tune your LGBTQ diversity & inclusion vision here, and save your seat for the 9/22 Q&A webinar where these strategies and more will be discussed.

In advance of my consultancy’s first webinar, Engaging LGBTQ Employees, I am encouraging prospective participants to share their opinions about the topic here. The results will help identify the pain points employers are attempting to resolve, and will inform the Q&A webinar discussion. The discussion will go deep into examining if and how employers are recruiting, retaining, and developing LGBTQ employees. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about how my consultancy can help organizations like yours develop and execute LGBTQ diversity, inclusion, and equity strategies.

On Thursday, September 22 at 2pm Eastern Time/11 am Pacific Time, I’ll be hosting my consultancy’s first webinar entitled Engaging LGBTQ Employees for executives, HR, and diversity professionals. During this one-hour Q&A conversation, participants will be encouraged to share their ideas, challenges, and solutions to help recruit, retain, and develop top LGBTQ diversity candidates for businesses, organizations, and government agencies. Be sure to stay connected for updates about this webinar by following the RPC Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and LinkedIn pages.

In the wake of the Orlando Shooting, business leaders are looking for solutions to support and encourage LGBTQ employees to take the time necessary to grieve and heal. While our collective mourning won’t end overnight, the initial sting can become less acute with effective leadership implementing real solutions offered in this post. Such action has the power to cultivate more compassionate and equitable workplaces, especially for those LGBTQ employees who may not always feel welcomed to bring their whole selves to work.

Happy Pride! In honor of this month, I wrote a post exclusively for business executives, chief diversity officers, and human resource leaders to consider as they implement strategies designed to attract, retain, and advance top LGBTQ talent. LGBTQ diversity and inclusion solutions that lead to the benefits featured in this post, along with many more, will be shared in a live Q&A webinar I’ll be hosting later this summer. To participate and stay connected to my work, subscribe to the RPC newsletter today by clicking here.

In 2016 alone, 22 states are in the process of considering over 100 bills that would prohibit transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) people from accessing the restroom that matches their gender identity. On a more promising front, cities like Portland are taking action to protect and affirm TGNC people. This post focuses on how to implement such protections, and shares an example of how Washington, DC’s #safebathroomsDC campaign converted over 100 single user restrooms within the first month of its launch.