Being Me
I know what you’re thinking — this is a tech blog. And it is, but it’s also here to celebrate the people and companies in the industry that support their staff regardless of who they are. A big part of my identity is that I’m gay, and once I came to terms with that I’ve never hidden it. Being allowed to be who I am at work makes me more creative, more comfortable sharing ideas, and more invested in the people around me. Tech isn’t usually seen as a “creative” industry, but it requires a very particular kind of creativity — analytical and process-driven, but creativity nonetheless.
Pride
I’m fortunate that my employer is a strong supporter of Pride. This year we had a walking group in the Birmingham Pride Parade — Birmingham Pride has been running for many years and the parade goes all the way through the city centre. I was lucky enough to get a place, and my entire family were given a space to walk alongside me.
Pride was brilliant. My kids were handing out goodies to the crowd, and it gave them a chance to see all the different cultures and communities that make up LGBT+ support. It was particularly meaningful for them to see other LGBT+ colleagues that their dad works with, as well as allies who show up because they believe in it.
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LGBT+ in Tech
I’ve met several LGBT+ colleagues across different jobs over the years — including some who aren’t out to the people around them. I’ve always been fortunate never to have found an employer who didn’t accept who I am. I did have one customer, who I’m not going to name, that made remarks serious enough that I left site. The customer project was cancelled shortly after the comments were reported.
Technology has a real power to bring communities together — whether that’s through forums and discussion boards, or using platforms like Meta Workplace to create a group where people can share and ask questions openly. During Pride month my employer runs an LGBT+ Group quiz: everyone jumps into a Teams call and does a pub-style quiz together. It sounds small, but it matters.
The biggest technology organisations are increasingly vocal about supporting their LGBT+ staff. Apple has an openly gay CEO. Microsoft shows up to London Pride every year with real fanfare. These are companies that recognise that who a person loves has nothing to do with their ability, and that celebrating our differences — with technology as the connective tissue — helps us all work better and serve our customers and communities more effectively.
Thank you
I know this isn’t the usual technical content, but I hope you can see why it belongs here.
