As Americans, we have long been a united people of many differences. Every generation throughout our history has boasted tremendous variety in its ethnicity, economic background, race, and religion and in other qualities, attributes, and circumstances that define the individual. We stand together today as a nation of independent men and women whose guarantees of freedom and equal opportunity remain coupled with the shared responsibility to respect the differences among us. Clearly, discrimination based on sexual orientation cannot be tolerated in the workplace. Let us all work to ensure that sexual orientation is recognized among the differences that help distinguish us but not divide us.

The observance of Gay and Lesbian Awareness Month in June offers each of us a chance to reaffirm our commitment to promoting tolerance, understanding, and communication in our communities and in the workplace. The Office of Civil Rights and the Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Employees organization (GLOBE) are cosponsoring activities this month and we encourage all employees to participate in these events.

Friday, June 13 1200- 100
SSMC2, Room 2358 (2nd Floor Conference Center)
Video Straight from the Heart
Stories of parents' journeys to a new understanding of their lesbian and gay children.

Tuesday, June 17 1000am - noon
SSMC 4, Room 12153
Katherine Anderson, Chief of Special Projects, U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Civil Rights and Bonnie Worthy, EEO Officer for the Office of the Secretary will conduct a workshop on employee rights and responsibilities as they relate to sexual orientation discrimination. They will outline the Department's process for handling such complaints of discrimination.

Thursday, June 19 1200 - 100
SSMC2, Room 2358 (2nd Floor Conference Center)
Kitti Durham, Federal Globe speaks on Benefit Issues for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender employees.