GLSEN to Honor Out & Equal at Respect Awards - Los Angeles, Presented by Roland Emmerich's Centropolis Entertainment

NEW YORK – GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, will honor Out & Equal Workplace Advocates at the Respect Awards – Los Angeles, Presented by Centropolis Entertainment, on October 8 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in recognition of Out & Equal’s commitment to respect for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the workplace, the same values that GLSEN strives to instill in schools.

The Respect Awards, held annually in Los Angeles and New York, recognize individual and corporate leaders who have helped propel GLSEN's efforts to ensure safe schools for all of America's students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

“We are proud to honor Out & Equal as a champion for workplaces where all employees are valued and respected,” GLSEN Executive Director Eliza Byard said. “Out & Equal has played an integral role in working with employers to promote inclusive work environments. Countless LGBT employees are safer and more respected on the job thanks to Out & Equal’s years of advocacy.”

Out & Equal champions safe and equitable workplaces for LGBT people. The organization advocates building and strengthening successful organizations that value all employees, customers, and communities.

Additional honorees, including GLSEN’s 2010 Educator of the Year, will be announced soon.

Director Roland Emmerich’s Centropolis Entertainment (“2012” and “Independence Day”) will serve as the Respect Awards – Los Angeles presenting sponsor. Kevin Brockman, Executive Vice President of Disney/ABC Television Group, and Michael Lombardo, President of HBO’s Programming Group and West Coast Operations, are event co-chairs.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Past Respect Awards – Los Angeles honorees include: HBO, Shonda Rhimes, David C. Bohnett, 2009 Student Advocate of the Year Austin Laufersweiler, Disney/ABC Television Group, Lance Bass, Darren Star, Dr. Neal Baer, Greg Berlanti, Hon. James C. Hormel, Hon. Sheila Kuehl, Cisco Systems, James Howe, Virginia Uribe, Moises Kaufman, IBM, Frankie Martinez and Jeff Quinn.

About GLSEN
GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established in 1990, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. GLSEN seeks to develop school climates where difference is valued for the positive contribution it makes to creating a more vibrant and diverse community. For information on GLSEN's research, educational resources, public policy advocacy, student organizing programs and educator training initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.