A Conversation on Pride Month with Steven Mecham

Hi Steven, thanks for taking the time to talk about Pride Month! Please start by introducing yourself, and how long you've been with AT&T.

I started my AT&T career in August of 2020 as a Retail Sales Consultant. In my short tenure, I achieved Summit for the Rocky Mountain Region and was promoted to the Business Acquisition Team in Utah. The business customers in my assigned territories nicknamed me “Mr. AT&T” because of my pride in the company. My favorite color is AT&T Blue, and my prized contributions are ambassadorships with #LifeatATT and the West Region Culture Committee. I am a proud dog dad to two Shih Tzu’s named Princess Jari and Duchess Zippy. I tout myself as the biggest fan of Reba McEntire, and I recently saw her in concert for my 190th time in Salt Lake City! Living in Utah has extreme advantages to my hobbies and interests since I am an avid outdoors enthusiast and fitness fanatic.

What's your first memory of celebrating Pride?

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Being raised in the dominant religion of Utah presented many challenges for me as a gay man. I grew up with feelings of guilt and shame that reinforced my secrecy and contributed to an inability to connect with others on a personal level when I was younger. I graduated high school with only a couple of friends, struggled with feelings of inadequacy, and felt that I was somehow “bad” or “wrong”, so my first memory of Pride is deeply threaded in freedom. After all I’d gone through, I stood at my first Pride wide-eyed with an overwhelming feeling of inclusion and support—and I felt the desire to keep feeling that. To be surrounded by love with the small masses in my first Pride event in Salt Lake City is a memory that will forever feed my desire and determination to live a healthy and fulfilling life. There is no greater feeling in the world than knowing you are valued, appreciated, and celebrated for who you are. Being amongst others who fought the same battles as I had and understood me on a level I couldn’t comprehend was both exhilarating and liberating.

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What does Pride Month mean to you personally, and how do you celebrate it?

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June is a month of visibility. It’s a beautiful cycle where I can now show up and support our youth in their journeys. Because of those who have fought and rallied before me, I am now able to see myself in spaces I couldn’t before—and most importantly, my existence in this moment right now, me living my truth, is just as impactful to those ahead of me. Pride is the celebration of authenticity and the freedom to be my true self without any discrimination. Love conquers all, and judgment is non-existent as I join hands with others in telling the world that it is not only ok and appropriate, but encouraged to love who you want to.

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Are there any LGBTQIA+ advocates or role models who have inspired you along your journey?

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My coming out story is riddled with celebrities who blazed wide trails in acceptance. Despite backlash, condemnation, and threats of damage to their careers, they helped to push forward movement in equality across America. Ricky Martin and Ellen DeGeneres will always be role models to me for their stance in creating a generation of high-spirited and liberated LGBTQIA+ communities. Ricky created a onePULSE Foundation with a mission to honor those killed in the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, and he has done great advocacy work in normalizing same sex families. Simply posting pictures of his husband and children on social media helps to give a voice to similar families who have faced discrimination. Ellen proved a lot of people wrong when she attracted legions of followers after coming out on national TV in 1996, which was inspirational to me.

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AT&T is a proud supporter of the LGBTQIA+ community. What does inclusivity in the workplace mean to you?

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While equality is a right and diversity is a fact, Inclusion is a voluntary approach.?Inclusion is about ensuring a workplace where everyone feels that they can be themselves and all are valued. When work environments are fair and respectful, every employee can feel confident in maximizing their potential and contributing at higher levels.?

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Looking beyond Pride Month, how do you think companies can help foster a more supportive and inclusive environment for their LGBTQIA+ employees?

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1. Implement inclusive policies: Develop and enforce non-discrimination policies that explicitly include sexual orientation and gender identity. Provide equal benefits for all employees, including same-sex partners, and offer gender-neutral facilities
2. Provide training and education: Conduct inclusive training sessions that focus on LGBTQ+ issues, unconscious bias, respectful language, and creating an affirming workplace culture
3. Establish LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Support LGBTQ+ ERGs where employees can connect, share experiences, and provide input on company policies
4. Promote visibility and representation: Celebrate LGBTQ+ identities and experiences by recognizing LGBTQ+ holidays and important milestones
5. Offer mental health support: Ensure that mental health benefits cover LGBTQ+-specific concerns and provide access to resources like counseling and support groups.
6. Encourage allyship: Foster a culture of allyship by encouraging employees to be vocal supporters of LGBTQ+ colleagues. Provide resources and training to help allies understand LGBTQ+ issues and learn how to be effective allies

Creating an inclusive environment requires ongoing commitment, education, and listening to the voices of LGBTQ+ employees to ensure we're heard and that our contributions are valued.