Supporting the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month and beyond

As we close out #PrideMonth, Brandon Mees , Laboratory Technician II at Myriad, shares what gender-affirming care means to him, the importance of fostering an inclusive environment at work, and much more.

How does a gender-inclusive environment impact your work life and well-being?

There is a certain level of comfort and protection that is provided when an assumed basis of acceptance, kindness, and understanding is present in your workplace. My focus is always on the multitude of patients we work for every day, and knowing that my entire team, department, and company are supported entirely means that we can authentically develop professional relationships and maximize our efficacy in our respective fields.?

What does gender-affirming care mean to you, and why does it matter?

It's interesting because gender-affirming care does not apply directly to me, and it took time for me to learn its importance and the science behind it. My entire life is focused on helping my sister Sophia Rose break out of the constraints Rett syndrome has placed her in. Most of the time, I am trying to get people to pay attention, to listen actively, and to care genuinely. Being a cis male, gender identity issues were unfamiliar to me. I have always tried to be aware of the adversaries or pain those around me are going through. Combining that with my neuroscience studies, it was easy for me to understand that this is a crucial avenue for many to have the option to pursue, and for some, it is literally a matter of life or death. That fact alone provides the urgency for me to want to do anything possible to fight for equality and support those who need it.

"When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free." - President Barack Obama

Why is it important for a business to care about fostering an inclusive environment, giving its employees the space and means to cultivate it?

Providing support and kindness to its employees can only help a business thrive and truly focus on helping its patients. I have never understood the difficulty some find in accepting someone's identity, as in my experience, no one's identity has ever affected me in any way, shape, or form.?How you treat someone - that is what is important, in my opinion.?

The?first thing you do?when you meet someone is ask what they would like to be called - it is the most basic form of decency and respect. Additionally, there is research into those who identify as not straight or not cisgender. Having some answers or indications as to what makes people different, without falling into the 'different = bad' mentality, provides a stronger understanding for those in our company and communities.

What does supporting the LGBTQ+ community at work look like?

For me, this is supporting those who are comfortable enough to share what type of human being they are with me, and having the people in my circles accept me for who I am. I actively listen and respectfully ask questions, especially to those whose stories or situations I do not understand fully. It is kindly explaining topics to those around me who are more unfamiliar with them. One of my favorite humans to ever walk this earth, Alecia Moore (P!nk), shared a story that had a message that I have tried to live by:

“When people make fun of me, [they] say I look like a boy or I’m too masculine or I have too many opinions, my body is too strong.” Continuing on her lesson to her daughter, P!nk continued, “We don’t change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change so they can see more kinds of beauty.”