Being an LGBTQ Ally is Personal: His Fight is My Fight, and Our Fight is Yours
“What’s so Funny ‘Bout Peace, Love and Understanding?” I’ve been thinking about that 1979 Elvis Costello hit during Pride Month. Costello and lyricist Nick Lowe had the courage to ask tough questions, like “where is the harmony?” and “is all hope lost?”
Back then, those questions were real to me. They struck a chord in my heart because my brother is gay and I was witnessing firsthand how he was being treated. You want to talk about courage? I watched how he had to hold back parts of who he is much of his life. It compelled me to become an ally, and I’ll stay involved until people no longer have to go through what he’s been through.
I’m a proud, active and vocal ally of all rights for all people all the time. My experience with Accenture’s Pride Employee Resource Group has been really rewarding. Together, Accenture’s people helped champion the LGBTQ cause at federal and state government levels. We’ve provided support and signatures for legislation and advocacy briefs designed to protect people. And just this week, we published our Getting to Equal report, Visible Growth; Invisible Fears, and it is eye opening. Businesses are making progress, but there’s much more we need to do.
Back to the Costello song. It is still relevant, and I know we all wish it wasn’t. Today, I’m answering the same way I did many years ago: There’s nothing funny at all about peace, love and respecting differences across love, gender, race and background.
It’s how I believe we’re supposed to be, can be and will be.
Building healthy cultures for transformation and better ways of working.
2 年Preach. Thank you.
Managing Director, Head of UX Research, Digital at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
2 年Love this Jimmy! Thanks for sharing.
Business Transformation and Technology Executive - Focused on working with Non-Profit Organizations to achieve both business and technology objectives
2 年Thanks for sharing your personal story. It enforces your commitment and Accenture's priority to LGBTQ as a year round passion and priority to embed inclusion and diversity into our culture.
Business & Integration Architecture Manager
2 年Thank you for being a champion and ally. The work Accenture does to promote peace and equality is a big reason I am proud to be an Accenture employee.
Marketing Strategist | Messaging Guru | Content Creator | Insights Builder | Digital Enabler | Program Innovator
2 年bravo!