Guadalajara, Mexico - One of the key outcomes of the increasing visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in society has been the recognition that special attention is warranted in the place where most people spend more time than any other - at work.

Delegates at the 3rd International LGBT Business Expo to be held in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico this September are set to learn from industry experts about an issue that is expected to increase in importance in many workplaces in Latin America in the months and years ahead.

LGBT people now more than ever have a choice about whether they 'come out' as LGBT at work or whether they keep their sexual orientation or gender identity a secret at work - known as being 'in the closet.' Some people only come out to those in the workplace whom they trust and not to all their colleagues. Statistics show that this is a significant issue.

There are more than 20 million LGBT people living in Latin America. The latest LGBT2020 research data - part of the world's largest LGBT research program by Out Now Global - shows that only 26% of Mexican workers are out to all those they work with. In Brazil this figure is also 26% and in Argentina, where workers fare slightly better, the figure is still only 35%.

San Francisco-based non-government organization Out & Equal Workplace Advocates focuses a spotlight on these issues for companies, and their Chief Marketing Officer, Teddy Witherington, will present a roundtable discussion entitled 'Global Workplace Diversity & Inclusion - The Latin American Issues' at this September's Expo in Guadalajara.

"Employers are key when it comes to the creation and advancement of work places that are open and respectful places for LGBT people to work," says Witherington. "In an increasingly globalized world, it is important to look at recent developments in the US to see what lessons can be learnt for companies in other parts of the world. At Out & Equal we are delighted to bring more than 15 years experience in this area to help delegates identify the issues - and how to address them."

Witherington will also deliver a keynote address to the conference that will address; succeeding in the competition for the best global LGBT talent, recent developments in the US and lessons to learn, pressure to increase doing business with partners with shared values on LGBT diversity and inclusion, the growing importance of corporations as LGBT support 'advocates', and the power of global solidarity.

Ruben Sandoval, CEO of LGBT Confex - presenters of the Expo in Guadalajara - said he is pleased to welcome Out & Equal to the Expo in the development of LGBT business in Latin America. "People need to feel comfortable and safe to be themselves at work," Sandoval said. "Out & Equal are world leaders in helping corporations to facilitate this through their LGBT diversity and inclusion policies, and we are so pleased that Teddy Witherington will be joining us this September in Guadalajara."

This is the second year running that Out & Equal has partnered with the LGBT Confex business expo event.

The event has garnered the support of many leading brands and organizations, including: American Express, IBM, American Airlines, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tourism Thailand, Guadalajara OVC, Jalisco Secretary of Tourism, Mexico Tourism Board, Prego Alter, Mundo Cuervo, Westin Guadalajara Hotel, and Out Now Global.

LGBT Confex presents their annual flagship event - the 3rd International LGBT Business Expo - over three days from September 5-7, 2013 in Guadalajara, Mexico. Delegate, buyer and exhibitor registrations are open now at LGBTbusinessExpo.com.

About LGBT Confex
Latin America's leading LGBT conferences and Exhibitions Company is LGBT Confex. Established in 2011, the organization quickly demonstrated its capabilities to put together a professional team with staff who bring many years in event management expertise. Following the success of their inaugural event in 2011, LGBT Confex doubled in scale with 2012's even more successful event in Cancun. The next event - International LGBT Business Expo - is being held in Guadalajara, Mexico from September 5 to 7, 2013.

About Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Based in San Francisco, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is the leading global NGO devoted to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) workplace equality and inclusion. Our vision is a world where employees are evaluated on their performance not their sexual orientation or gender identity, expression or characteristics.

Founded by Selisse Berry in 1996, Out & Equal's services quickly expanded to meet the needs of employers and employees. The hallmark Out & Equal Workplace Summit, first held in 1999, has grown to become the largest annual LGBT workplace conference in the world, attracting 3,000 attendees and support from over 200 US Fortune 1,000 companies. The 2013 Out & Equal Workplace Summit takes place in Minneapolis October 28-31. Today, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates continues educating and empowering its constituents through training, events, LGBT CareerLink - the world's only LGBT job bank, the world's largest registry and ecosystem of LGBT employee resource groups, a network of 17 regional affiliates in the U.S., and a growing community of global leaders.

In 2013 Out & Equal published Out & Equal at Work - From Closet to Corner Office, a ground breaking anthology of 37 inspirational personal stories that chart the evolution of workplace equality. For more information go to OutAndEqual.org.