As we enter a new millennium, we enter a new GlobalAge ...

Welcome!  

GlobalAge is open to all who support our Vision and Mission statements.

GlobalAge is a resource to many employees, and openly shares best practices with corporations & other organizations. (See our Network Resources for a partial list.)

In 2000 shortly after General Electric included Sexual Orientation in its EEOC Policy 20.2, initial discussions took place about forming an official, corporately recognized LGBT group, but as with an attempt five years prior, the effort was soon abandoned by most due to competing personal and career demands.

During the summer of 2001, Michael Wiggins led a vitalization where the "GlobalAge Idea" had its beginnings for developing an independent, grass-roots group to share best practices world-wide across businesses, companies and organizations.  The vision for GlobalAge (both at the local chapter level and globally at other businesses) was introduced, and men and women (both straight and gay) were encouraged to become engaged to carry it forward.  At the same time, a kindred group developing for GE Capital (Stamford, CT) learned of GlobalAge, adopted the GlobalAge name, and joined their efforts as a grass-roots group (independent of any company support) to share best practices with other individuals, businesses and companies.

Throughout 2002 & 2003, GlobalAge grew from the original handfuls of committed employees to much larger, far-reaching groups with more than 500 individuals in over 35 locations.  During this time, GlobalAge benchmarked and networked with many Fortune 500 companies’ Gay and Lesbian networks and consulted external advisory groups.  

It has been a tough road over these past few years.  Early-on, many had to abandon the effort leaving the lion's share of the work to a vital few, of whom now no longer work for GE, but we have carried on and expanded our efforts.  It was well worth our perseverance, as evidenced by our proven success and the many employees from various businesses and companies that have benefited. 

As corporate environments become safer and more reassuring for LGBT employees, we hope that many more will become involved, with their sleeves rolled up ready to lend a helping hand.

 -Michael Wiggins - founder & director of the GlobalAge Gay-Straight Employee Alliance

November 2001 GlobalAge's First Networking Event:

NGLTF Concurs: Milwaukee is #1;

Jean Challenges LGBT Activists: 'I’ll Meet You There'

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force today echoed recent praise of the city of Milwaukee, urging all LGBT activists to visit as soon as possible! Milwaukee is the host city of the fourteenth annual Creating Change conference, convened by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation, from Nov. 7 – 11, 2001.

This week, Girlfriends Magazine has named the city #1 in its ranking of best places for lesbians to live. Citing the state nondiscrimination law and the city’s relatively low cost of living, housing costs, and crime rate, Milwaukee topped the list for the first time this year.  The ranking was reported on this week in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.  Also, last Sunday, the New York Times carried a travel section story highlighting recent progress made in Milwaukee.

"NGLTF chose Milwaukee as the site for our Creating Change conference precisely for these reasons," said Lorri L. Jean, executive director of NGLTF.  "In light of all this recent publicity, I urge all LGBT activists and organizers to visit the city as soon as possible – I’ll meet you there in a month!"

Milwaukee and Wisconsin have played significant roles on the national stage.  Wisconsin made LGBT history in 1982 by becoming the first state ever to enact an anti-discrimination law; the next year, Wisconsin repealed its anti-sodomy law.  Home of the country's first openly lesbian Congresswoman, Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin is also the home of America's Black Holocaust Museum, founded by Dr. James Cameron, who survived a 1930 lynching in Marion, IN.  Milwaukee and Wisconsin are the birthplaces of schools vouchers and welfare "reform," respectively.

Creating Change, the premier national conference of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement, will be held at the Milwaukee Hyatt Regency in November.  U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Anthony D. Romero, the newly appointed executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, will be among the keynote speakers.