WASHINGTON, D.C. (WordNews.org) Dec. 6, 2012 – A senior CIA official says hiring gays, lesbians, transgendered and bi-sexual individuals brings innovation to the agency.
Susan Gordon, the CIA’s director for support, spoke to 100 students attending oSTEM, an LGBT conference in Chicago last month. oSTEM stands for Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in attendance. Gordon spoke of the CIA’s efforts to become an employer of choice for the LGBT community.
“I employ your peers at every level in my organization, including senior management. And I know that sexual orientation and gender identity have absolutely no relation to one’s ability to do the job,” she said. “When you blend LGBT and STEM, you get innovation, different perspectives, connections between complex ideas, and applications that drive bottom-line business results,” she said.
The CIA served as a corporate sponsor for the conference, boasting that it is the first time the agency has sponsored such a conference in CIA history.
The agency, according to its website, “led discussions in the Intelligence Careers conference track. The CIA participated in the event as part of its nationwide outreach to diverse communities with mission critical talent.”
Agency officers managed break-out sessions on the topics of STEM careers in intelligence, leveraging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for innovation in intelligence, and the importance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) allies in the workplace, according to the CIA.
Gordon challenged the oSTEM students—who represented more than 20 colleges and universities around the country—to be role models in the STEM fields, to become the next generation of national STEM leaders, to be bold, and to do great things. She also encouraged students to excel in their studies and to find meaningful ways to give back to the nation.
Members of the Agency Network of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Employees and Allies were also present to share their personal stories and CIA experiences, the CIA said. One officer noted that, “(The Agency is) not perfect, but we are making CIA a place where employees from all backgrounds can contribute to their full potential,” according to a quote on the CIA’s website.
Earlier this month, NPR reported the CIA held a networking event for the Miami gay community as part of its efforts to diversify.
Michael Barber, the CIA’s LGBT Community Outreach and Liaison program manager, told the group the CIA has a program tailored for gay couples.
“We actually have LGBT employees serving overseas with their partners,” Barber said, according to NPR. “So you can do it.”
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