07/09/2024
Blog
TransUnion is proud to recognize its LGBTQ+ associates and the diverse identities, experiences and knowledge they bring to the organization. Last year, TransUnion earned a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year.
In an effort to further recognize the accomplishments and contributions of our LGBTQ+ associates, TransUnion is joining Q Street, an organization dedicated to uplifting the voices of LGBTQ+ professionals in Washington, D.C.
On the heels of Pride Month, Madison Hubbard with TransUnion government relations sat down with Jenny Kane, Senior Director of Federal Government Affairs at Altria, and Board Member of Q Street. Their conversation is detailed below.
Although well-known amongst the LGBTQ+ community in D.C., many outside of Washington have probably never heard of Q Street. Can you give us a brief description of Q Street and its mission?
Q Street is a 501(c)(6) non-profit, non-partisan organization of LGBTQ+ lobbyists and public policy advocates who share a commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and community. Our network consists of more than 3,000 LGBTQ+ professionals from across the political spectrum, all branches of government, and the public and private sectors. Q Street brings together our members for networking and professional development opportunities.
You mentioned that Q Street was originally founded more than 20 years ago. Can you talk about Q Street’s history and how it has evolved over the past two decades?
Q Street began in 2003 following the Supreme Court’s historic decision in Lawrence v. Texas, when there was a renewed hope for advancing LGBTQ+ rights. Q Street was formed to be the bridge between LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, LGBTQ+ lobbyists, and our colleagues and allies in Congress. What started as an informal monthly breakfast to connect these groups officially became incorporated as Q Street in 2008, when the organization held its first formal election. Monthly breakfasts became the monthly lunches we still host today in addition to receptions. In one of its first, Q Street honored out LGBTQ Members of Congress Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank, along with newly-elected Congressman Jared Polis. We carry this tradition forward today in our annual reception to honor the Congressional Equality Caucus.
As the march for equality has advanced, Q Street has grown and evolved as well. We now have more than 3,000 recipients of our monthly digests, hundreds of attendees at our receptions, and our monthly luncheons have featured speakers such as Members of Congress, campaign managers, activists, plaintiffs in the most important LGBTQ Supreme Court cases of our time, and the Secretary of the Army.
Today, Q Street hosts nearly 25 receptions, lunches, and professional development events every year. We are continuing to explore how we can best help our members grow and network in Washington.
How long have you been a part of Q Street? What keeps you engaged in Q Street and service to the organization?
I am proudly serving in my third term on the Q Street Board. Our Board is elected by our membership, so it is humbling and an honor to have been in service for the past five years. The all-volunteer Board works to oversee the operation of the organization as well as planning our programming and events. I am especially proud of our Board’s serious commitment to diversifying Q Street and honoring the diversity within our organization – from educating ourselves through trainings and open, active engagement with our members to thoughtfully creating opportunities for everyone in our community to feel at home within Q Street spaces. As one specific example, we changed the name and focus of our quarterly women’s receptions to now include women and gender expansive individuals. This small step reflects our responsibility to each other to always be improving and growing Q Street, whether we are representing businesses, advocacy nonprofits, or working on the Hill. As a corporate lobbyist, I continue to encourage my and other company’s sponsorship because I cannot think of another organization that works to nurture that togetherness in our policy community like Q Street. There is a chance to network, of course, but also to build friendships and to lift each other up.
TransUnion is honored to sponsor Q Street. How can corporations like TransUnion help to support Q Street and its work to advance the LGBTQ+ community and rights?
In order to offer programming and events that are accessible to all Q Street members, we rely on annual sponsorships. LGBTQ+ people face unique and systemic barriers to their professional development and success in both the public and private sectors. Q Street brings together the LGBTQ+ community and its allies to help reduce those barriers through unique training, programming, and networking events. We are grateful for our active and engaged membership and sponsors who help to make this work possible. Please feel free to reach out to Madison or Q Street to learn more about sponsorship and getting engaged with the organization.
Learn more about how TransUnion is advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging in its 2023 Diversity Report.