Out in Tech

Out in Tech is a national nonprofit that unites the LGBTQ+ Tech community. It’s also the world’s largest non-profit community of LGBTQ+ tech leaders and has existed for over ten years.

They currently have 32 chapters and over 50,000 members. Out in Tech creates opportunities for members to advance their careers, grow their networks, and leverage tech for social change. Furthermore, they envision a tech industry where LGBTQ+ people are empowered, well-represented, and have full agency, from intern to CEO. They strongly believe this will lead to Equity and belonging for all underestimated groups (centering women and people of color), innovative new ideas, products, and platforms, and a more just future.

They describe their core values as being Kindness (to one another, on- and offline), Knowledge (timely and thought-provoking content), Belonging (events for the full LGBTQ+ spectrum and those who love us), Joy (we take your time and our community seriously, not ourselves)

Out in Tech is comprised of a board of directors, a small but mighty full-time staff, and volunteer-led chapters and communities around the world.

Out in Tech also offers a mentorship program that pairs LGBTQ+ youth aged 17-24 with queer and trans tech professionals. Each mentee will learn a mix of technical and professional skills needed for launching a successful career. Their admissions team creates pairs that make the most sense for their mentees. They work together to create fun and inspiring projects, attend panel discussions to hear from other tech professionals and build lasting relationships based on mutual respect and interests. The program is entirely virtual and open to residents all over the United States, and thanks to the amazing sponsors and partners of OIT, the program is free.

Todd Feiler, Pittsburgh Co-Chapter Head, said, “Out in Tech prioritizes inclusion and belonging on multiple fronts. It’s not just for software engineers; it’s not just for 10-year-plus technologists. It’s for people. It’s for college students who might want to get interested in technology. It’s for anyone who’s even interested in technology.”

Feiler and Tyler Early are the Co-Chapter Heads for Out in Tech: Pittsburgh. Ash Wilson is the Marketing Head, and all three are founding members of the Pittsburgh chapter’s leadership team.

Todd Feiler, whose day job is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ringlet, a startup building a care coordination platform for family caregivers, grew up in O’Hara Township and was living in New York City during the pandemic. He realized how much he valued family during that time, and after a decade in NYC, he decided to return home to Pittsburgh.

Upon returning, Feiler was looking to meet new queer people in Pittsburgh. Out in Tech was a great way to do so, but he was surprised to look at the 30+ OIT chapters and not see Pittsburgh there. He felt both Pittsburgh’s tech sector and LGBTQ+ communities were strong and growing, and a Pittsburgh chapter would make perfect sense. During Pride Month, June 2023, Todd and the founding members organized their first event at 5801. He said a dozen people showed up, and in the past year, membership has doubled. There are 175 online members who use Slack to communicate. Their current goal is one in-person event per quarter. “Pittsburgh has a growing tech sector, and it’s important to be as inclusive as possible. I think Out in Tech can help contribute to that goal,” said Feiler.


Meet Out in Tech

Join Out In Tech Pittsburgh, in partnership with Duolingo and Google, for a special celebration of National Coming Out Day on Wednesday, October 9, from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. This event is dedicated to honoring the courage and resilience of our community as we continue to overcome adversity and work toward more inclusive workplaces. Enjoy a keynote from one of our elected officials, powerful stories of LGBTQ+ identity from local voices, and connect over free food and drinks. 6425 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

For more info on Out in Tech go to Outintech.com

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Chrissy Costa is a local comedian known for her dry wit, satirical style of comedy, and big earrings. Before doing stand-up she studied sketch comedy at Chicago’s famed Second City. You can follow her on Instragram and Facebook. (She / Her / Hers)