"Equality means all individuals can enjoy the basic rights and opportunities that all others enjoy," says Qwest CEO Judy Peppler. "Regardless of sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, religious affiliation, or creed."

As head of a company that has a history of equality for its GLBT employees, and as the sister of a lesbian mom, Peppler is a champion of equality both in her public and private life. "I take our company's policy of equality very seriously as something I should be modeling for the employee body."

Fairness, it turns out, is good for business too. "It's good business policy to support our GLBT employees. Any business wants its employees and customers to reflect the population as a whole. To discriminate would be foolish."

Peppler has seen first-hand the impact of discrimination on her sister's life. "My sister has twin boys and her spouse has a daughter. They will have to go through an adoption process even though they had all the kids together as a committed couple. If two people are raising kids together, they should be recognized as parents. I believe my sister deserves the same rights with her spouse and family that I enjoy with mine."

Fairness and equality for GLBT people is an issue that is "long past due" in gaining recognition, says Peppler. "And that inequality needs to be remedied."