This year, the call went out again for LGBTQ members of the UA community to participate in the 2021 Zips of Pride poster. I was on the fence about that again this year, but only because I had been slightly disappointed in the number of actual LGBTQ members vs. allies on the poster.
But, I realized that if I didn’t participate, I would be further skewing the ratio. So, I signed up for a date/time to get my photo taken next week.
On Friday, I was on a video call with a colleague and we were going through some reporting and website updates – the usual.
As we were wrapping up, they asked if we could talk about something not work related. I said sure and they told me that they had seen the email about the call for the poster and had seen last year’s and noted that I was on that poster. They then told me that at the last two jobs they had been at, they would have been fired for coming out.
And then they asked me my thoughts on being on the poster.
I thought about it for a moment and then told them I had been on the fence last year – that it’s one thing to be out to close co-workers and another thing to be out to the “old white guys”. I said that I felt comfortable with my colleagues and decided that since this was the first thing that had really been really supportive of the LGBTQ community at UA in a while, that I felt like I should participate since it might help other people too.
I then told them I was going to be in this year’s poster – and mentioned that having more of “us” on the poster sends a stronger message than just the allies. (The allies are great, but, really, everyone at UA should be an ally.)
They were really relieved and thanked me for my insight. I don’t know if they are going to be in this year’s poster – but I think I helped them at least be more comfortable being themself at UA.
Two pride parades, getting married to my fella, and now – gay role model?
Did not see that coming.