KPMG Named 2012 Straight For Equality in the Workplace Award Winner

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2012 /3BL Media /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PFLAG National has named KPMG LLP, the U.S. audit, tax and advisory services firm, the 2012 Straight for Equality in the Workplace honoree. The award will be presented at the Fourth Annual Straight for Equality Awards Gala on Monday, April 2nd at the Marriott Marquis Times Square. Straight for Equality—a national outreach and education project created by PFLAG National—invites, educates and engages straight allies to advocate for and support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people.

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The Straight for Equality in the workplace award acknowledges an organization with a demonstrated commitment to achieving equality for GLBT people in the workplace by educating and engaging straight allies in creating both policy and culture change.

"We're proud to honor KPMG for their persistent commitment to ensuring that their GLBT employees and their families are treated equitably at work," said Jody M. Huckaby, executive director of PFLAG National. "At KPMG, they've made it clear that exceeding the basics is part of how they do business – from leading their industry in policies, to leading all organizations in efforts like grossing up benefits, to seriously addressing the need for culture change at work, KPMG is a great example of an employer committed to equality at work for all."

KPMG has a long record of commitment to the full inclusion of GLBT employees. In its effort to move equality forward in the workplace, KPMG has created a roadmap to equality for its industry. In 1993, KPMG added sexual orientation to its EEO Policy, and included gender identity in 2005. KPMG offers its U.S. employees and their domestic same- and opposite-sex partners a variety of health and other benefits, including the recent announcement that it will immediately offer to its GLBT partners and employees tax offsets for additional federal and state tax costs incurred when they pay for same-sex domestic partners' medical benefits. The firm also offers a self-ID option in its hiring and annual firmwide employee work environment survey, and hosts a mentorship program for its GLBT employees. The firm's national GLBT diversity network, pride@KPMG, provides professional development and other training programs, and Pride Month is celebrated in all KPMG offices, firmwide, each June.

"We're honored to receive this recognition from PFLAG," said KPMG Chairman and CEO John B. Veihmeyer. "Diversity and inclusion are critical to our firm's strategic priorities, and principles that speak to who we are as a firm, how we operate, and how we see our future. Indeed, diversity and inclusion drive our culture, and are part of the foundation that makes KPMG one of the great places to work. On behalf of all the people at KPMG, I am grateful to PFLAG National for recognizing our firm's commitment to these issues."

KPMG has earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for eight years running. KPMG was also named one of Work Life Matters magazine's "Top Companies for LGBT Equality 2011" in October, and has been ranked for the fourth consecutive year on DiversityInc's "Top 50 Companies for Diversity." KPMG also made three of DiversityInc's specialty lists in 2011: The firm is currently ranked No. 1 among the Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees, No. 2 among the Top 10 Companies for People with Disabilities, and No. 6 among the Top 10 Companies for Global Diversity.

Veihmeyer—who will accept the Straight for Equality in the Workplace Award at the gala — was recently honored with the "CEO Diversity Leadership Award" from Diversity Best Practices. The organization also recognized Kathy Hopinkah Hannan, KPMG's National Managing Partner, Diversity and Corporate Responsibility, with its 2011 Diversity Officers Leadership Award.

To learn more about the 2012 Straight for Equality Awards Gala, visit www.pflag.org/2012gala.

Founded in 1972 with the simple act of a mother supporting her gay son, PFLAG is the original ally organization. Made up of parents, families, friends, and straight allies uniting with LGBT people, PFLAG is committed to advancing equality through its mission of support, education and advocacy. Now entering its 40th year, PFLAG has more over 350 chapters and 200,000 supporters crossing multiple generations of American families in major urban centers, small cities and rural areas in all 50 states. To find out more about PFLAG National's programs and services, please visit us at www.pflag.org.

Straight for Equality is a project of PFLAG National. It was launched in 2007 to invite, educate, and engage straight individuals to have the discussions necessary to move equality forward for their gay, lesbian, bi, and transgender friends in simple, nonpolitical ways. Learn more at www.straightforequality.org today.

About KPMG LLP: KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.kpmg.com/us), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International.") KPMG International's member firms have 145,000 people, including more than 8,000 partners, in 152 countries.

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