With #pridemonth starting tomorrow, I am going to broach what some consider to be scary territory for a business leader or professional.
If you are LGBTQIA+ or are somewhere in the diverse rainbow of human experiences I don't even know about yet, I want you to know that I see you, respect you and that I'm a safe person for you - and do my best to be a good ally.
Why am I talking about this? Well, it's pride month is the timing of the why. For the rest..
I have the luxury of being a passing "cishet married white guy". I am generally very private with my affairs, preferences, status, etc because I'm just generally a private person about my life. Yes, this implies I'm not one or more of those. Enjoy that mystery.
But, the world at large also is not systemically or aggressively against my "default" appearance to the world, so I don't need to fight it.
Many of you don't have that luxury. The world has some pretty scary attitudes, and many of them are being not only treated as mainstream, but are being codified in law. Being NB, trans, or any other form beyond "static binary" is pretty scary right now.
For example, I'm very sorry DynamicsCon, DirectionsNA - you both keep being conferences in states that are codifying hate in the US, and I cannot in good conscience give money to or even want to step foot in a place that's not recognizing human rights in this way.
Even just in the past month, world leaders and influencers were gathering in an ultra-conservative's country for a conference on how to be a more effective autocracy to enforce their values - which specifically have no room for gay, lesbians, trans, and more.
I think hard about the lessons of watching the battles of racism growing up in the US, and I think about the "silence is compliance" take - that if the system is working for you (but not others) and you're keeping quiet, you're not helping.
So, if you're in this industry, or thinking about being in this industry, and you're somewhere on the diverse range of sexuality, gender, and relationships - openly or not yet -- I'm safe to talk to. I will respect you for what you do and not shy away from who you are.
I don't know all the ways I can help yet, but the #msdyn365bc space needs so many more people, and if there's any way I can make it safer for you and yours, I'm on it.
💖🧡💛💚💙💜🤎🖤🌈