Community Town Hall: The Future of LGBTQ+ Protections and DEI Policy
Monday, October 23, 2023
5:30 – 7:00 PM ET in Boston, MA
Join PIOW at the Boston Public Library this October for a live, in-person town hall event bringing together Boston’s LGBTQ+ and business leaders to address the future of LGBTQ+ protections and DEI policy. Learn more.
Details
With a record number of anti-LGBTQ+ laws in circulation and the repercussions from Supreme Court decisions on DEI still unfolding, now is the time to ask -how can we support and strengthen our communities?
The Future of LGBTQ+ Protections & DEI Policy will feature leading voices from PIOW, GLAD, and Boston’s business community to discuss:
- The current state of LGBTQ+ equity and upcoming challenges
- How organizations can anticipate and respond to the impact of state and federal legislation on LGBTQ+ individuals, families, and the workplace
- Strategies for business leaders working to protect a distributed workforce and preserve diversity initiatives
- Audience questions via in-person Q&A
This LGBTQ+ History Month, join us in witnessing and responding to history in the making.
Who Should Attend
We encourage any and all LGBTQ+ professionals and allies to attend.
Discussion may be of particular interest to:
- Human Resources and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Professionals
- Corporate Communications teams and Legal Specialists
- Employee Resource Group Members and Executive Sponsors
- LGBTQ+ Community Organizers
- Institutions impacted by Title VI ruling or that could be impacted by changes to Title VII in the future
Register
This event is free and open to the public.
Click here to RSVP through the Boston Public Library website. Spread the word by forwarding this event to others in your network as well!
Recent Events
Available Now:
June 2023 Event Executive Brief
The Intentional Leadership Executive Brief explores:
- How to move away from performative allyship and center intentional actions in one’s DEI work
- The adaptation of inclusion strategy for a local, national, and global workforce
- Methods of empowering organizations from within in response to challenging external climates
Relive our latest event and take its best practices back to your workplace.

Maintaining Momentum on Social Justice
April 12, 2023 | 11:45 am – 1:00 pm ET
Removing Barriers for Future LGBTQ+ Leaders
LGBTQ+ young professionals overcome barriers to enter the workforce authentically, maintain employment, and access leadership development opportunities. Amidst an ongoing climate of legislation targeting the future generation of LGBTQ+ professionals, we must ask what happens when existing barriers to entry are further exacerbated by a lack of community support, housing stability, and access to educational resources.
View event recap and resources.
Click here to watch the full event recording.

Building Resilient Organizations: Best Practices for HR, DEI, and ERG Leaders
The oft-discussed Future of Work has arrived, leaving organizations reinventing strategies to sustain company culture, employee engagement, and talent retention across remote and hybrid models. PIOW’s Building Resilient Organizations Panel spotlights industry leaders doing the work to build engaged, diverse, and equitable teams in our ever-changing professional landscape.
We would like to thank Alison Batey, Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller, and Winson Wang for sharing their experiences with us during this discussion. We would also like to thank Bryan Vermes for moderating, Tori Kaufmann-Paulman for leading in our recognition of Transgender Day of Remembrance, and Wendell K. Chestnut for closing out the session.
View event resources.
Click here to watch the full event recording.
Never miss an event.
Archive
Trans Workplace Inclusion Series
Implementing Policy and Best Practices
June 2, 2021

Our second session featured industry leaders and consultants diving deeper into best practices in implementing impactful trans workplace policies and fostering cultures of belonging.
PIOW thanks Ellen LaPointe, Irene Brank, Jennifer L. Levi, and Colleen Simonelli for sharing their insights in the second part of this series.
Trans Workplace Inclusion Series
Learning from Lived Experience Panel
May 20, 2021

Our first session aimed to amplify the voices of trans professionals speaking to the current state of trans inclusion and (in)equity at work.
We would like to thank Cheryl Katon, Ryan Rasdall, and Trevor Boylston for sharing their stories with us. We would also like to thank Tori Kaufmann-Paulman for moderating this discussion.
Cope & Hope
LGBTQ+ Networking Event
February 23, 2021

Pride in Our Workplace invited LGBTQ+ and allied professionals to share their strategies for coping, staying hopeful, and continuing to advocate for more equitable spaces. Following an introduction from PIOW board members, session attendees were split into networking breakout rooms to tackle a series of discussion topics.
The Intersection of LGBTQ+ Equality and Racial Justice
Equality and Racial Justice Panel – Part 2
October 13, 2020

This panel showcased a variety of current and anticipated organizational best practices around racial justice and BIPOC and LGBTQ+ community intersectionality and collaboration. Our panelists and moderator provided insight, support and guidance for LGBTQ+ leaders, allies, employee resource groups, HR professionals and business leaders who seek to create a more inclusive workplace for all employees.
The Intersection of LGBTQ+ Equality and Racial Justice
Equality and Racial Justice Panel – Part 1
June 30, 2020
As we commend the recent Supreme Court decision to protect the equal rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people, we recognize that we must keep focused to address racial injustice for black, indigenous, and people of color within our community, nation and world. During this event, our panelists and moderator provided insight, support and guidance for LGBTQ+ leaders, allies, employee resource groups, HR professionals and business leaders who seek to create a more inclusive workplace for all LGBTQ+ employees.
Advancing Inclusive Workplaces
LGBTQ+ Leadership Panel
February 28, 2020

This year we planned to present a series of panel discussions and forums to spotlight LGBTQ+ employees, leaders, and allies who are making great strides in promoting and advocating for inclusive policies and practices within their respective organizations and within our community.
The first installment of our 2020: The Year of LGBTQ+ Inclusive Leadership Series was a panel titled Advancing Inclusive Workplaces. This panel will provide guests the opportunity to hear from change-makers within organizations who recognize the power in their identities and work to advocate for inclusion in the workplace.
10th Annual PIOW Networking Night
LGBTQ+ Networking Event
May 3, 2016
PIOW hosted its annual networking night on Tuesday May 3 from 6:00 to 8:30pm at the Beat Brasserie in Cambridge.
Our guest speaker was Dr. Stephen Boswell, President and CEO of Fenway Health. We were absolutely thrilled to have had Dr. Boswell attend and represent such a great local organization.
Additional PIOW Networking Events
LGBTQ+ Networking Event
2007 – 2013