Diversity, Inclusion, and Innovation: Inside Lesbians Who Tech
The Lesbians Who Tech Conference is an annual gathering that brings together LGBTQ+ women, non-binary, and trans individuals and their allies within the technology sector. Over time, it has evolved into a significant event for the LGBTQ+ community, fostering a profound sense of belonging, creating networking opportunities and facilitating discussions on diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. In celebration of its 10th anniversary, this year’s conference embraced the theme of Generative AI. The event was held both virtually and in person, in front of the iconic Castro Theatre in San Francisco, California. An international audience of over 15,000 attendees joined remote sessions throughout the week, while over 2,500 people gathered in person during the three-day summit that featured a remarkable line up of speakers, workshops, and networking opportunities. Keynote speakers who took the stage included co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement Alicia Garza, actress Jennifer Beals, WNBA player Layshia Clarendon, president of the Human Rights Campaign Kelley Robinson, artist and writer Alok Vaid-Menon, LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. Session topics ranged from “GenAI & the Future of Cyber Threats” to “Impactful Leadership Practices” and “Building AI Skills to Elevate Your Career.”
Professional queer spaces are essential for creating inclusive, supportive environments in the workplace, where LGBTQ+ individuals can express their identities and be their authentic selves. At this year’s summit, the founder’s opening speech resonated with attendees, envisioning “a world where women and non-binary leaders hold the power” — a vision to challenge the status quo where positions of power are most often occupied by men. As of 2023, the technology industry’s representation of women stands at 27%, with even lower numbers in leadership positions. Data regarding the percentage of LGBTQ+ individuals, including non-binary and transgender individuals working in the field remains limited. Early studies suggest that transgender people make up less than 1% of the industry. The affirmation of identity within queer professional spaces is vital for mental and emotional wellbeing, fostering increased self-esteem and confidence.
In 2023, anti-trans bills continue to be introduced across the country, blocking transgender people from access to healthcare, education, legal recognition and the right to exist openly. This year has already seen the passage of a staggering 84 anti-trans bills out of the 583 proposed nationwide, with an additional 373 in active consideration. To provide context, in 2022, we saw 26 bills pass out of the 174 proposed. This stark increase highlights the urgent need for advocacy and support for the transgender community. “Trans Americans of all ages are under attack, women and people with the capacity for pregnancy have lost fundamental freedoms. Black, Latinx, and Asian Americans still face overt and systemic racism. Our workforce is experiencing extreme burnout,” (LWT, 2023). The LWT organizers brought in numerous queer and trans activists to guide attendees in healing, raising awareness, and outlining a call to action to prepare for the challenges ahead.
Each day at the summit included a rich array of events on the main stage, comprising of keynote speakers, panel discussions, films, and interactive activities, a diverse array of engaging experiences that intertwined the core themes of activism, leadership and technology. Spanning the smaller stages across the conference, a multitude of workshops covered a broad spectrum of technical and soft skills. Within some of these sessions, we delved into the challenges frequently encountered by queer individuals in tech careers. Topics included strategies for embracing authenticity in the workplace and navigating biases and stereotypes while striving for professional success.
Witnessing leaders in technology who reflect my own identity on the main stage was profoundly inspiring and validating as a non-binary individual navigating transitioning within the professional landscape. One such figure was Clark Ly, a transgender Senior Release Manager Lead at Microsoft, who hosted a session titled ‘Advocacy & Accountability: Leveraging Corporate Leadership to Drive Change for LGBTQ+ Communities.’ Clark has been a dedicated advocate for transgender visibility, leading a gender expression and transgender community at Microsoft. His session centered on the value of cultivating an environment where employees can openly share their personal experiences, and he discussed the pivotal role of corporate accountability in propelling societal change. This session resonated deeply, showcasing the possibilities and empowerment for individuals like me within the tech industry.
In parallel, other sessions ventured into the exponential growth and transformational power of AI. One session dissected a myriad of cyber threats posed by the rapid development of AI and suggested corresponding mitigations, demanding a parallel evolution in cybersecurity measures. In another session, the focus shifted to how leaders can harness AI to enhance the employee experience. These discussions and insights highlighted the intricate relationship between technological advancement, security and the optimization of the workplace environment.
After attending the LWT and experiencing firsthand all of the benefits of professional queer spaces, I am excited to announce the formation of the Paylocity QueerTech Collective, an inclusive community dedicated to fostering diversity, inclusion and innovation within our organization. I aim to incorporate the key insights and impactful themes I garnered from the conference, along with valuable pointers on professional development, into the fabric of this group. Engaging with a vibrant queer community of engineers who share multiple facets of my identity was profoundly empowering and inspired me to form this queer-centered engineering space at Paylocity.
As highlighted by Leanne in her closing speech, “Lesbians Who Tech is hard to define, but it is a feeling that only exists in this room.” My aim in establishing the QueerTech Collective is to cultivate a similar environment for fellow queer engineers and allies at Paylocity, one that fosters a sense of belonging within the tech sphere. In the coming weeks, we will be scheduling our first meeting to discuss our goals, upcoming events and how we can work together to make a positive impact at Paylocity. By actively engaging with the Paylocity QueerTech Collective, and continuing to sponsor and participate in influential conferences such as Lesbians Who Tech, Paylocity remains committed to driving forward our initiatives on the DEIA front.
