|
May
speaker
Matthew Cusick
Former Cirque du Soliel Gymnast to speak on Thursday
By
Jason Cecil
On Thursday,
May 20, AEN's speaker will be Matthew Cusick, a former Cirque
du Soleil gymnast who achieved national attention when he
was fired because of his HIV status in 2003.
In April
2004, the case resolved in a record $600,000 settlement of
Mr. Cusick's discrimination charges against Cirque du Soleil.
The agreement
is the largest public settlement ever for an HIV-discrimination
complaint settled with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC), according to the Lambda
Legal Defense and Education Fund, which represented Mr.
Cusick.
Cirque
du Soleil will also host annual antidiscrimination trainings
for all of its employees worldwide and will adopt a zero-tolerance
policy toward discrimination based on HIV and other disabilities.
For two years, Cirque will have its records open to the EEOC
to ensure it is in compliance with the settlement.
Although
still a talented gymnast, Mr. Cusick said Cirque du Soleil's
public hostility toward him since the firing led him to decide
not to return to work for the company.
Mr. Cusick
will be joined by the Lambda Legal's lead attorney regarding
the workplace discrimination suit. Please join us for an interesting
and informative talk.
Mr.
Cusick's appearance has been made possible in part by Lambda
Legal.
|
<
AEN Gold Partner Delta Air Lines >
Building
Industries Group meets
The
Building Industries Group (BIG) had its first meeting in
on May 6 at the Teknion Showroom in Buckhead.
The
newly formed special interest group is for architecture,
design and related professionals, including commercial real
estate, construction and sales. The group's mission is to
provide support to selected charitable efforts, to foster
the personal and professional development of its members
and to support AEN's overall goals & initiatives.
Mike
Gibson from the city's planning department talked about
future plans for Atlanta.
For
more information, contact BIG Chairperson Carl Lange at
carllange@aen.org.
|
<
AEN Bronze Partner IBM >
|
Ijtihad!
By
Drew Barton
Addressing
nearly 200 members and guests at AEN's April Meeting, Canadian
Muslim author Irshad Manji explained her progressive attitude
toward Islam will be necessary for her religion to continue
to grow.
As an
openly gay woman, Ms. Manji is often challenged on her seemingly
conflicting personal and religious lives. She rhetorically
asked AEN if the Koran states that everything that God creates
is made excellent, then why is she -- a lesbian -- any less
perfect?
Ms.
Manji advocated the reinstitution of ijtihad, or the school
of independent thinking, which she claims was lost during
the eleventh century by a series of fatwas. She said that
these schools of free thought allowed the true nature of
Islam to flourish and grow. However, under the Muslim leader's
strict interpretation of the Koran, these schools were closed
and independent thought was suspended.
After
her comments, Irshad Manji answered several questions from
the AEN audience ranging from her beliefs on gay marriage
to what is needed to make human rights advances in the Muslim
world.
Ms.
Manji appearance was sponsored in part by Emory Hillel and
the Anti-Defamation League.
|
<
AEN Silver Partner Southern Voice >
|
|
|
| AEN
Board members held a planning retreat at Smithgall Woods
in January. |
Serving
on the AEN Board
AEN is
always looking for active and diverse new Board members.
If you
would like to nominate someone for the AEN Board or you yourself
would like to move on to the new level of actively helping
serve and produce all that AEN does, please submit the person's
name and a supporting statement giving his or her background
and why they would make a great AEN Board member.
Submit
suggestions to Don George at dongeorge@aen.org.
|
|
Pre-pay
and save!
AEN is
pleased offer a new membership plan that includes your meeting
entrance charge. This plan, once $175, is now $125.
That's a $60 savings.
Click
here to renew your membership »
|
|
Advertising
Quotes
AEN is
actively requesting quotes for our printed advertising. This
work will be seen in Southern Voice, Atlanta Magazine, David
Atlanta Magazine and by thousands of Atlanta's decisionmakers.
To read
more about this exciting opportunity, click
here. Quotes are due by May 19, so please hurry.
|
A
Democratic Debate
AEN will
host a debate for Georgia's fourth district Democratic candidates
on Thursday, July 15.
Confirmed
candidates include:
Debate
MC
SEIU Regional Deputy Political Director Allen Thornell
Moderators
Southern Voice Editor in Chief Matt Hennie
11 Alive Reporter Denis O’Hayer
Sheraton
Midtown Hotel at Colony Square
Networking begins: 5:45 p.m.
Program begins: 6:45 p.m.
Presented by AEN, SEIU, Human Rights Campaign and Southern
Voice.
|
|
|
• May speaker
• Looks who's partnering with AEN
• Building Industries Group meets
•
Ijtihad!
• Serving on the AEN Board
• Pre-pay and save!
• Advertising quotes
• A Democratic debate
|
|
Click here to make a reservation
>
Monday, May 17
Bonnie Barton
Ray's on the River
11:45 a.m.
>
Thursday, May 20
Allen Jones
Houlihan's
11:55 a.m.
>
Thursday, May 27
Stephen Julien & Dan Lax
Villa Christina
11:45 a.m.
>
Wednesday, June 2
Allen Jones
Houlihan's
11:55 a.m.
>
Thursday, June 3
Sandy Hoke with Mark Buhrke
Waverly Hotel Atrium
11:45 a.m.
>
Tuesday, June 8
Glen Paul Freedman
Einstein's
11:55 a.m.
>
Tuesday, June 15
Allen Jones
Houlihan's
11:55 a.m.
>
Tuesday, June 29
Allen Jones
Houlihan's
11:55 a.m.
Click
here to make a reservation
|
|
The AEN mission is to:
•
Promote business contacts and friendships through networking;
•
Advocate equality for lesbians, gays, bi-sexuals, and
transgenders;
•
Promote diversity in the business community;
•
Foster leadership in business, government and the arts.
|
|
Glen Paul Freedman
Executive Director
Bonnie
Barton
President
Don George
Vice President
Partnerships Co-chair
Nominations Chair
Jamie
Ensley
Treasurer
Barbara Rubin
Secretary
Programming Co-chair
Drew Barton
Communications Chair
Dana Brown-Owings
Pride Chair
Carl
Lange
Programming Co-chair
Dan Lax
Membership Chair
Stephen Julien
Diversity Committee
David Payne
Past President
Carla
Corley
Community Outreach
Sandy Hoke
Partnership Co-chair
Greeters Coordinator
|
|
Jason
Cecil
Editor
Drew Barton
Webmaster
|
|
The following partners make AEN's programming possible:
Gold
Corporate Partner
Delta Air Lines
Bronze
Corporate Partner
IBM
Bronze
Business Partners
Charis
Books and More
Decatur First Bank
Outwrite
Bookstore and Coffeehouse
Planet Fitness & Colony Square Athletic Club
Media Partners
Atlanta Magazine
Southern Voice
David Atlanta Magazine
Click
here to join our "Circle of Friends"
|
|
|
