The power of pride: LGBTQIA+ employees share their personal journeys

What does Pride mean to you?

Pride, to me, can be interchanged with so many other words. Pride is authenticity. Pride is setting precedence. Pride is leadership. Pride is creativity. Pride is love. Pride is showing up for yourself in ways not done before. Pride is pushing back against ignorance. Pride is advocating for yourself and others.

What other parts of yourself are you proud of? Has this changed at all over time?

So many things! I am proud of my grace. I am proud of my optimism. I am proud of my ability to think critically. I am proud of me creating safe spaces for other people to learn. I am proud of my leadership and my ability to collaborate with others. I am proud of my emotional intelligence and empathetic heart. These continue to change and adapt over time as I learn more about myself and what I bring to the table.

How do you celebrate and present your identity at work?

I am a part of the Glamazon affinity group, connecting other LGBTQIA+ folk here at AWS. One way I am able to provide visibility into my identity is stressing the importance of sharing pronouns. By being transparent with my pronouns, my team is aware of my identity and how to refer to me. While this doesn’t necessarily count as a celebration of my identity because it is just common decency to include your pronouns, it is the main way I am able share with others.

What's one good thing or proud moment that the LGBTQIA+ community has experienced recently?

I can express my appreciation for the growth in representation in media. This is significant because it is normalizing our existence and showing others we exist outside of specific tropes.  

What other parts of yourself are you proud of? Has this changed at all over time?

I am proud of my upbringing - unprivileged but full of reminders that education is the key, and that no matter how hard I work, someone somewhere is working harder than me. The credit goes to my mother! She had the hardest time of her life, and she never wanted her children to go through the same. Her constant encouragement, support, and reminders to be a good human is one of many reasons that I bring such passion to the work I do in DEI.

Have you experienced any unconscious or conscious biases as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community?

Oh yes, without any doubt. I still remember starting my career and I was not promoted to a senior HR business partner role because I was ‘too flamboyant’ for that position. The head of HR very confidently shared that feedback to me in front his executives. I was broken for days, but every bad experience makes you stronger! Here I am now —proud, successful, happy, and never looking back to that organization.

Coming out: do you have any tips for how to have this conversation with loved ones? What’s your best advice for someone who hasn’t yet come out at work?

You know it when you are ready, and the sooner you realize that you only live once, the better it is. We all had those moments of fear and struggle. I’d rather live authentically than try to make someone else happy. But, since you have asked for a tip, then let me say — trust yourself. Coming out is a personal process, so don’t feel like you have to do it because of certain situations or people. Do it when you are ready, and think of all the possibilities. Look for support systems if you need to.

What resources or groups within AWS/Amazon do you find most valuable for the LGBTQIA+ community?

Our Glamazon affinity group for LGBTQIA+ people has several resources and toolkits to address some of the challenges that our community faces on a daily basis. If you are an ally and you’d like to learn, then there are also several tips and training resources available for our leaders in the business. Our affinity groups partner together to create intersections to support community members who are LGBTQIA+ but also Black or neurodiverse or a person with disabilities, etc.

What would you tell an LGBTQIA+ job candidate about the culture and community here?

“AWS embraces all forms of diversity. We may not be perfect, but we are learning every day. We learn from you, from your experiences, and for you being authentic and sharing with us about what would make us better! I am an openly gay man and I have a supportive manager, leaders, and stakeholders. AWS has a culture of giving feedback — feedback that is taken in a constructive way to support everyone for who they are. I love working here, and I hope you do too.

Coming out: do you have any tips for how to have this conversation with loved ones? What’s your best advice for someone who hasn’t yet come out at work?

I've been out to my friends and workmates for a few years, but coming out to my mom wasn't easy. I came out to my mom last year. Not only did I come out to my mom, but I also had a lot of conversations with my mom. I kept answering all the questions about what life was like as a lesbian and how great my current partner is. My mom was emotional at first, but we’ve started to have a good relationship again.

What other parts of yourself are you proud of? Has this changed at all over time?

I'm proud of everything I do. As I began to confidently tell others that I was part of the minority, I have felt even more courageous and confident.

How do you celebrate and present your identity at work?

I have become my true self, where I can express myself and sometimes share my private life with my colleagues.

What would you tell an LGBTQIA+ job candidate about the culture and community here?

AWS places great importance on diversity and is working hard to increase it. LGBTQIA+ people can express themselves and work in their own way.

What does Pride mean to you?

To me, Pride represents a time to honor the courage, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQIA+ community. It's a reminder of the progress that has been made towards greater equality, and the work that still needs to be done. Pride also serves as a source of inspiration for future generations of LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies.

What other parts of yourself are you proud of? Has this changed at all over time?

"Proud to be Me" has always held true for me, and I believe that cultivating self-confidence and self-care should be a top priority for everyone. Once we learn to love and accept ourselves, we can then go on to make meaningful contributions to our communities and beyond. It all starts with learning to love ourselves first."

What's one good thing or proud moment that the LGBTQIA+ community has experienced recently?

I had a moment of great pride in 2022 when Thailand's parliament passed the first reading of the Marriage Equality Bill, which will pave the way for same-sex marriage. This is a significant step towards creating a more equal society in Thailand, so that all individuals can have the same rights and opportunities.

What would you tell an LGBTQIA+ job candidate about the culture and community here?

Please feel free to be authentic and true to yourself. Our community of builders is inclusive and accepting of everyone, regardless of who you are. Therefore, we encourage you to simply be YOU.