Business and diversity champion IBM will be hosting a session on GLBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Intersexed) workforce issues at Rainbow Conversations, the GLBTI human rights conference to be held in Melbourne as part of the inaugural Asia Pacific Outgames.

A frequent winner of workplace diversity awards in the UK and US, the Armonk, New York-based company is one of the first corporations in the US to add sexual orientation to its non-discrimination policy in 1984. In 1991, an informal LGBT employee networking group started in Canada. Six years later, it extended benefits to same-sex partners. Today, there are some 47 local Employee Alliance for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Empowerment (EAGLE) groups worldwide including chapters in Australia/New Zealand, Japan, Philippines and Singapore. IBM is also the second major corporation, behind American Airlines, to have a dedicated LGBT sales team to sell directly to LGBT leaders at major corporations and LGBT-owned businesses since 1999.

Mark Latchford, Vice President IBM Systems and Technology Group, Australia/New Zealand said in a media statement issued on Dec 19, "Diversity is a business priority for IBM. The organisation strives to create an atmosphere where GLBT employees are valued, empowered to think freely, express themselves and innovate."

Citing IBM's workforce diversity policy and Richard Florida's book The Rise of the Creative Class which suggests the use of a "gay index" as a measure of a region's social and cultural diversity, the session hopes to examine the relationship between recognising LGBTI employees and markets and broader LGBTI human rights (and) issues, and the roles private enterprise play in progressing LGBTI human rights in countries where LGBTI people are not recognised or where same sex relationships are illegal. Other speakers will include Hayden Majajas, from Lehman Brothers, Japan and Nareen Young, Executive Officer Diversity Council of Australia.

The 2-day conference will focus on LGBTI human rights issues across the Asia Pacific region and on five key areas, law, health, business, education and sport. Speakers include Elizabeth Evatt, one of Australia's most distinguished human rights lawyers and advocates; news anchor and former CNN correspondent Anton Enus; former New Zealand Member of Parliament Georgina Beyer; co-founder of Indonesia's first homosexual organization, Lambda Indonesia and GAYa NUSANTARA Foundation Dede Oetomo; Rosanna Flamer-Caldera, co-Secretary General for the International Lesbian and Gay Association and Executive Director of Sri Lanka's Equal Ground. The Law concurrent session will include Fridae CEO Dr Stuart Koe; Jonas Bagas Secretary General of Lesbian and Gay Legislative Advocacy Network in Manila, Philippines and Anjana Suvarnananda, a longtime Thai LGBT rights activist and founder of Anjaree Foundation.

The Outgames will coincide with the 20th anniversary of Midsumma, Melbourne's annual gay and lesbian cultural and arts festival from Jan 19 - Feb 11.

Fridae is proud to be a media sponsor of the 1st Asia Pacific Outgames.

For a detailed conference program and more info about the Outgames, please visit http://www.melbourneoutgames.org.