Office of the Director of National Intelligence Hosts Eighth Annual IC Pride Summit “As One Community”

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ODNI News Release No. 18-19
June 24, 2019

Office of the Director of National Intelligence Hosts
Eighth Annual IC Pride Summit “As One Community”

Officers from across the Intelligence Community (IC) gathered last Thursday in Bethesda, Maryland, for the eighth annual IC Pride Summit, hosted this year by the Office of Director of National Intelligence. This year’s event included remarks by several senior leaders, including Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Susan M. Gordon, Department of Homeland Security Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis Secretary David Glawe, and Central Intelligence Agency Deputy Director Vaughn Bishop.

This year’s theme, As One Community, highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion, particularly for the lesbian, gay, transgender, queer, and ally community within the IC.

Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Gordon opened the Summit, saying, “I believe that inclusion is not just the right thing to do, but is an imperative to our mission. In the IC, we must create an environment that fosters everyone to be their best selves, because this world, this community, demand excellence.”

In his remarks as the keynote speaker, Glawe discussed his role as one of the highest ranking, openly gay officials in the U.S. government and spoke about his journey rising through the ranks of law enforcement and government and his decision to be open about his sexuality.

Breakout sessions offered participants the opportunity to meet in person and via video teleconference from around the globe to discuss topics related to the day’s theme:

The Oppression Olympics
When Someone Comes Out: Demonstrating Support and Acceptance
Exploring Intersectional Identities: Being LGBTQ + and Deaf
A Transgender and Non-Binary-Community-Led Discussion
Navigating LGBTQ + Workplace Equality in a Changing Landscape
Queer People of Color Caucus

In the afternoon, Beck Bailey, Deputy Director of Employee Engagement of the Workplace Equality Program for the Human Rights Campaign, discussed the business case for diversity in the IC and the importance of being inclusive in order to recruit and retain the top talent the IC needs.

The Central Intelligence Agency’s Deputy Director Vaughn Bishop and IC Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Chief Rita Sampson closed the summit by announcing the CIA will host the ninth annual IC Pride Summit in 2020.

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