The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality, presented Morgan Stanley with the Corporate Equality Award at the HRC's annual New York Gala on February 7, 2009. This award is the highest honor that the HRC can bestow on a corporation. MSNBC "Countdown" host Keith Olbermann was also honored with the Ally for Equality Award. These awards recognize outstanding contributions to the pursuit of LGBT equality.

"The LGBT community owes both Keith Olbermann and Morgan Stanley a debt of gratitude for their work to advance our equality," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "We are pleased to recognize and thank them."

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn presented the award to Morgan Stanley. In her remarks, Quinn singled out the Firm's efforts and commitment. "All of you who are members of your companies' LGBT networks, make your companies better companies - move your companies to the place where Morgan Stanley is," she said.

Speaker Quinn was joined by many other government officials, including New Jersey Governor John Corzine, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and NY Senate President Malcolm Smith.

The Firm received the award based on its perfect 100 percent score on the HRC's Corporate Equality Index, and meaningful support of a culture of diversity and inclusion through ongoing initiatives such as its active Pride (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Employee Networking group and the London-based counterpart GLEAMS (Gay and Lesbian Employees at Morgan Stanley), diversity-related recruiting initiatives, visible community and internal outreach, and LGBT Pride Month events.

"Morgan Stanley is proud of its ongoing recognition by the HRC as a leading employer of choice for LGBT employees," said John Mack, Chairman and CEO. "Our global top-down commitment to diversity, including LGBT diversity, ensures that each and every member of Morgan Stanley is able to bring his or her full self to the table as a valuable contributor. We appreciate the HRC's endorsement of our unwavering dedication to all of our employees."

The recognition builds on accolades the Firm received last December when the Pride ENG was named "Program or Initiative of the Year" at the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce's 2008 Diversity and Leadership in Financial Services Awards Dinner.

The award ceremony, held at the New York Stock Exchange and featuring House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, was an outgrowth of the NGLCC's 2007 Wall Street Tribute to Chairman Frank and recognized outstanding achievements in LGBT diversity within the financial services industry.