The National LGBT Bar Association, the largest organization of LGBT and allied legal professionals in the country, has announced that Romulo L. Diaz Jr., vice president and general counsel of PECO, will receive the organization’s Out & Proud award, which recognizes legal professionals who advance LGBT equality by creating more secure and welcoming workplaces.
The LGBT Bar praised Diaz for his advocacy for the LGBT community.
“Through his work with PECO and his long history of advocating for LGBT equality both in Philadelphia and nationally, Romy has opened doors and broken down barriers,” D’Arcy Kemnitz, executive director of the LGBT Bar, said in a statement. “As an out and visible leader within Pennsylvania’s largest electric and natural gas utility, and through his service on civic and nonprofit boards in Pennsylvania and across the country, his career has been focused on service, community and the law. We’re excited to honor him and recognize his contributions as an attorney and an advocate.”
Diaz serves as the chief legal officer of PECO and oversees its team of attorneys, as well as the company’s claims department. In 1993, he was appointed deputy chief of staff and counselor to the U.S. Secretary of Energy. In 1998, he was appointed by President Clinton to serve as assistant administrator for management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. From 2005-08, he served as the city solicitor of Philadelphia.
Diaz said he was very surprised by the news of the award.
“I think it’s a great organization,” he said. “I was in New York last week for their annual Lavender Law Conference. It’s a phenomenal organization. It has great grassroots, corporate and law-firm support. It’s a wonderful and humbling honor.”
Diaz added that PECO has recognized his award and continues to support his efforts to promote LGBT equality.
“Folks here are aware of it,” he said. “We have certainly recognized it and I’m sure it will be reflected in our internal communications as these honors normally are. My way of thinking wouldn’t have been possible without the company’s support. PECO and our corporate parent, the Exelon Corporation, have been extremely supportive of me and our LGBT employees in the company.”
Diaz noted that the company has sponsored the Lavender Law Conference and taken steps “here at the company that should make the community proud of the leadership shown by PECO and Exelon.”
Diaz will receive The National LGBT Bar Association’s Out & Proud Award Sept. 18 at a reception at Hotel Palomar, 117 S. 17th St. For more information, visit www.LGBTBar.org.
