I -found an LGBT Employee Rource Group: why beg gay the workplace should not be an issue | Be You Network

Contents:

• LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENR, INTERSEX MAYO EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP (LGBTI MERG)
• I -FOUND AN LGBT EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP: WHY BEG GAY THE WORKPLACE SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUEWRTEN BYETIENNE GERMA PRéCéNTTOSUIVANTJULY 2, 2020I -FOUND AN LGBT EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP: WHY BEG GAY THE WORKPLACE SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUEUN ARTICLE ETIENNE GERMA BEYOUWORK LNCH THE ROLE MOL MPAIGN "GENR SHAPERS 2020", A WORLDWI SERI OF GENR+ ENTREPRENRS' PORTRAS. THEY WILL SHARE THEIR STORI, THEIR BS JOURNEY AND SHARE ADVICE TO MAKE AN IA A REALY, OM LNCH TO IMPACT. THIS WEEK, WE HAD A TALK WH STEVE OM LGBT ALLIANCE. ‍WE TALKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE AS A GAY MAN THE WORKPLACE, HOW HE BEME A GAME CHANGER HIS PANY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEG NFINT.“DON’T BE AAID TO ASK FOR MORE THAN YOU THK YOU ARE GOG TO GET, HAVE NFINCE AND FOLLOW YOUR HEART!”I AM STEVE SMOTHERMAN. I AM A HBAND AND HAVE BEEN WH MY SOULMATE FOR MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.  I’M FORTUNATE TO BE A FATHER OF TWO AND A GRANDFATHER OF FOUR.  I HAVE A VERY RICH AND BY LIFE! I WORKED AT CRACKER BARREL, A RTRANT-RETAIL PANY FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. CRACKER BARREL IS FAMO FOR THEIR HOMOPHOBIC POLICI STUTED BACK 1991. IN 2009, I WAS A FOUNDG MEMBER AND LED THE LGBT ALLIANCE, AN EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP, PROMOTG LGBTQ AWARENS AND BUILDG WORKPLACE CLN.‍I GREW UP RAL OH A NSERVATIVE, RELIG FAY. WE WERE A MIDDLE-CLASS AMERIN FAY, MY PARENTS WORKED VERY HARD. THE AREA WAS NOT THAT UNLIKE WHERE I LIVE NOW TENNSEE, WHICH IS A SMALLER TOWN JT OUTSI OF A LARGE CY. EVERYONE AROUND ME WAS WHE, CHRISTIAN, HETEROSEXUAL AND THAT WAS WHAT “NORMAL” WAS MY WORLD. MY FAY WOULD TRAVEL TO LARGER CI SOMETIM AND I WOULD WATCH TELEVISN SHOWS (THIS WAS BEFORE THE INTER - LOL) WHERE HELPED ME TO UNRSTAND THE WORLD WAS FULL OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND HELPED ME EVEN INTIFY WHO I WAS AND WANTED TO BE.I ME OUT 1993 WHEN I WAS 31 YEARS OLD. IT WAS A DIFFERENT DAY AND TIME THE WORLD! WHEN I WAS A YOUNG ADULT THE AIDS CRISIS WAS THE HEADL, PEOPLE WERE DYG EVERYWHERE. THIS LED TO MY TERNAL STGGLE TO DO WHAT I HAD BEEN TOLD WAS RIGHT THAT PHED ME EVEN FURTHER BACK THE CLOSET. MAKE NO MISTAKE, I DO NOT HAVE ANY REGRETS ABOUT BEG A LATE BLOOMER.  I HAVE TWO AMAZG SONS AND A FAY THAT MATTERS SO MUCH TO ME. WHEN I ME OUT, I KNEW I WOULD HAVE TO BE PATIENT WH MY FAY AND A LOT OF IENDS. THEY DID NOT KNOW THE THENTIC ME. I FELT THAT IENDS AND FAY WOULD NOT ACCEPT OR UNRSTAND WHAT I WAS FEELG WHEN TOOK ME SO LONG TO E TO TERMS WH BEG GAY MYSELF. ONCE I GOT THE NFINCE WH MYSELF AND I REALIZED FOR ME TO BE TLY HAPPY, TO BE A GOOD FATHER, AND A GOOD SPOE, I HAD TO BE HONT AND THENTIC. MOST PEOPLE DREAD AND FEAR G OUT, BUT I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS EVER REGRETTED ! THE G OUT PROCS NEVER STOPS. FOR EVERY NEW PERSON WE MEET, WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS CISN AGA, OM A STRANGER A STORE, TO A DOCTOR, ETC... IS THIS RMATN ABOUT ME RELEVANT TO SHARE? DO I HAVE THE NFINCE AND DO I FEEL SAFE? THIS PROCS IS EVERYDAY WH EVERY PERSON YOU MEET.I HAVE SEEN HOW G OUT IMPROV PEOPLE'S WORK PERFORMANCE, I HAVE SEEN HOW AFFECTED MY WORK AND THIS IS WHY I KNEW I HAD TO DO WHAT I ULD TO IMPROVE . THE CLN WORK I DO THE WORKPLACE IS VERY PERSONAL. I THK THIS IS ONE REASON I HAVE SUCH A PASSN FOR THE WORK: BUBBLED UP LIKE A PRSURE SI OF ME AND ONCE I ME OUT I HAD TO DO SOMETHG TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE. I ULD NOT CHANGE THE WHOLE WORLD, BUT AT LEAST I ULD IMPACT THE PEOPLE AROUND ME. PROFSNALLY, I BEGAN RETAIL AT GAP INC. AND THEN I MOVED TO LEARNG & DEVELOPMENT, WHICH CLUD DIVERSY & INCLN WORKIN 2005, I JOED CRACKER BARREL, A RTRANT/RETAIL PANY THAT IS NOSTALGIC AND VALU OLD-FASHNED SENSIBILI. IT DID NOT HAVE A GOOD REPUTATN WH THE LGBTQ MUNY AND I HATED WHEN I HAD THIS REER OPPORTUNY. AS A GAY MAN, WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A PLACE TO WORK, THE FIRST THG YOU REARCH IS IF YOU WILL BE WELED, BEE ONCE YOU E OUT, THERE IS NO TURNG BACK! I KNEW THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO FOR MAKG THIS NEW WORKPLACE CLIVE, BUT DURG THE TERVIEW PROCS, I REALIZED - THEY NEED ME MORE THAN I NEED THEM. MY IENDS WERE SURPRISED. THEY ASKED ME, “WHAT ARE YOU DOG? HOW N YOU WORK THERE?, THEY HATE GAY PEOPLE.” FOR ME WAS SIMPLE: THE WORK WAS WHAT I WANTED TRAG, WAS A SHORT MUTE, AND I ENJOYED THE PEOPLE I WORKED WH! THE ISSUE OF BEG GAY THE WORKPLACE IS THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE! FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS OF MY TIME AT CRACKER BARREL, I HAD AN EMPHASIS ON DIVERSY & INCLN, PECIALLY WH LGBTQ WORKPLACE CLN. MY TRAG BACKGROUND ALLOWED ME TO UNRSTAND THE STEPS OF ADULT LEARNG, FACILATE DIFFICULT NVERSATNS AND BE EFFECTIVE AT DIVERSY & INCLN NTENT. I HAVE HAD AN TERTG REER PATH, AS WELL AS AN TERTG PERSONAL PATH, HAS NOT BEEN A DIRECT LEAR PATH, NEHER WHAT I HAD PLANNED, I FOLLOWED MY HEART MORE THAN ALWAYS FOLLOWG MY BRA! I HAD BEEN AT CRACKER BARREL FOR A UPLE OF YEARS AND I WANTED TO HAVE A BROAR IMPACT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I HAD NO IA HOW THIS EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP WOULD END UP IMPACTG NOT ONLY ME, THE PEOPLE I WORKED WH, THE PANY NATNWI, BUT PEOPLE WELL OUTSI THE PANY. THIS TERVIEW BEG ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE EXPONENTIAL IMPACT, FAR BIGGER THAN I EVER ANTICIPATED.  I WAS A FOUNDG MEMBER OF THE LGBT ALLIANCE, AND LED THE EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS. CREATG AN ERG WAS NOT SO UNIQUE THE RPORATE WORLD, BUT FOR CRACKER BARREL WAS MONUMENTAL. CRACKER BARREL HAD A WOMEN’S ERG AND AN AIN-AMERIN ERG. WE STARTED THE LGBT ERG WH SIX PEOPLE. EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUPS OR BS ROURCE GROUPS HELP MORI TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL REPRENTATN, A VOICE AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE. OUR ERG BEGAN BY MEETG AFTER WORK PEOPLE’S HOM. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, WE EVENTUALLY BEME BOLD AND MOVED ONTO RPORATE PROPERTY, BUT FOUR OF OUR SIX PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO MEET A ROOM THAT HAD WDOWS. I N REMEMBER THAT DAY VIVIDLY! I SAID, “IF WE NNOT MEET THE ROOM WH WDOWS BEE OF OUR FEAR AND THE LACK OF TST THE PEOPLE WE WORK WH, THIS IS WHY WE NEED STARTG THIS GROUP!! WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETGS THE MIDDLE OF THE URTYARD OF THE BUILDG WH RABOW FLAGS WE WILL KNOW WE HAVE MA !” EVENTUALLY WE DID THAT AND MUCH MORE! THE ERG GREW SLOW AT FIRST, BUT WAS A BOLD MOVE WHEN YOU KNEW THE HISTORY OF THE PANY. CRACKER BARREL OPENED S FIRST RTRANT THE SMALL TOWN OF LEBANON, TENNSEE, A SOUTHERN NSERVATIVE STATE. IT WAS 1969, JT TWO MONTHS AFTER THE STONEWALL RTS. CRACKER BARREL CULTURE IS EP NOSTALGIA, EXTREMELY OLD-FASHNED. IT HAS SCE GROWN TO 670 LOTNS NATNWI, 3 BILLN DOLLARS ANNUAL SAL, MORE THAN 76,000 EMPLOYE. TO BETTER UNRSTAND THE STIGMA WH CRACKER BARREL AND THE LGBT MUNY, LET'S LOOK BACK AT WHERE I BELIEVE THE DISNNECT STARTED. IN 1991, WHILE THE AIDS PANMIC WAS AT S HEIGHT, THE PANY STUTED A POLICY THAT BEME FAMO AND FAMO. THE MEMO OF THE POLICY STATED, “CRACKER BARREL IS FOUND UPON A NCEPT OF TRADNAL AMERIN VALU, QUALY ALL WE DO, AND A PHILOSOPHY OF A 100% GUT SATISFACTN. IT IS NSISTENT WH OUR NCEPT AND VALU AND IS PERCEIVED TO BE NSISTENT WH THOSE OF THE CTOMER BASE, TO NTUE TO EMPLOY DIVIDUALS OUR OPERATG UNS WHOSE SEXUAL PREFERENC FAIL TO MONSTRATE NORMAL HETEROSEXUAL VALU WHICH HAVE BEEN THE FOUNDATN OF FAI OUR SOCIETY.” AS A RULT, ELEVEN LONG-STANDG EMPLOYE WERE FIRED AND THEIR TERMATN PAPERWORK CLEARLY STATED THE REASON FOR THEIR TERMATN “EMPLOYEE IS GAY.” I DID NOT WORK AT CRACKER BARREL AT THE TIME BUT I REMEMBER SEEG THE NEWS AND SEEG THE MONSTRATNS. IT MA NATNAL HEADL CLUDG CNN AND THE NEW YORK TIM.  THE TERMATED EMPLOYE APPEARED ON OPRAH WEY, 20/20, LARRY KG, AND OTHER NATNAL TELEVISN SHOWS. AGA THIS WAS 1991. THE BACKLASH WAS SO PABLE AND THEY ONLY KEPT THE POLICY FOR SIX WEEKS. IT WASNT UNTIL 2001 THAT  THE PANY ADD THE SEXUAL ORIENTATN THE ANTI-DISCRIMATN POLICY UNR PRSURE OM S VTORS. I JOED CRACKER BARREL 2005 AND WE BEGAN THE EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP LGBT ALLIANCE 2009. WE HAD FOUR OBJECTIV TO GUI OUR ERGS WORK: DEVELOPMENT - TO PROVI A WORK THAT SUPPORTS THAT SUPPORTS THE PROFSNAL VELOPMENT OF LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENR EMPLOYE AND THEIR ALLIEDUTN - TO SERVE AS A ROURCE AND POT OF NTACT FOR S MEMBERS, THOSE SEEKG OR NSIRG EMPLOYMENT WH THE COMPANY, AND FOR OTHER TERTED DIVIDUALS OR GROUPSRECMENT - TO SERVE AS A ROURCE AND POT OF NTACT FOR S MEMBERS, THOSE SEEKG OR NSIRG EMPLOYMENT WH THE COMPANY, AND FOR OTHER TERTED DIVIDUALS OR GROUPSOUTREACH - STRENGTHEN CRACKER BARREL’S RELATNSHIP WH THE LGBT MUNY‍WE LEARNED TO BE BOLD, TAKE A BREATH AND JUMP OFF THE CLIFF SOMETIM. WE KNEW PROGRS WOULD NEVER BE AS FAST AS WE WANTED BUT WE KNEW NOT TO BE OFFENSIVE AND TURN PEOPLE OFF. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SPOKE ONT OF OUR ENTIRE RPORATE OFFICE OF NEARLY 700 PEOPLE ABOUT OUR LGBT ALLIANCE. I REVIEWED OUR ERG’S FOUR OBJECTIV. WHEN I SPOKE ABOUT OUR OUTREACH AND ALL THE PANI AND ANIZATNS THE LGBT ALLIANCE HAD WORKED WH, I NOTICED PEOPLE WERE WHISPERG TO EACH OTHER. I TOO REALIZED HOW MUCH WE HAD ACPLISHED AND I EXPLAED,  “WE HAVE OVERACHIEVED OUR FOURTH OBJECTIVE OF OUTREACH. WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH THE MUNY BEE WE FEEL SAFER OUT THERE, THAN WE FEEL HERE, AT WORK. WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT AND YOU N HELP ME CHANGE THAT STARTG TODAY!”THIS BOLD MOMENT MA NFINT AND WE STARTED PROGRAMS TO MAKE FEEL MORE FORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE. ONE WAS THE “BRGG YOUR WHOLE SELF TO WORK” IATIVE.  WE DISCSED HOW IMPORTANT IS TO BRG OUR WHOLE SELF TO WORK.  WHAT IF YOU DO NOT? WOULD YOU RAISE YOUR HAND AND PARTICIPATE AT WORK? WOULD YOU SHARE YOUR IAS OR FILTER THEM? PARTICIPANTS WERE VED TO SHARE THEIR LIV AND FAY PICTUR.  THERE WERE MULTIRACIAL FAI, SPO WH PHYSIL DISABILI, OR SOME UPL HAD AGE GAPS. WE DISPLAYED THE PICTUR THE WORKPLACE AND CREATED GROUNDBREAKG NVERSATNS.  THIS BEME AN ONGOG CHANGE AGENT THE PANY AND MA PEOPLE PROUD TO BRG THEIR WHOLE SELV TO WORK. OUR GROUP BEME RELENTLS MARKETG, ACTUALLY MARKETG MANIACS! WE BRAND OUR LGBT ALLIANCE ERG. WE PROFSNALLY SIGNED OUR LOGO, WE CHOSE A FONT LOR, STYLE, AND SIZE SO PEOPLE WOULD REGNIZE IMMEDIATELY OUR MUNITNS OM EMAILS TO POSTERS. WE HAD BRAND K PENS, WATER BOTTL, BACKPACKS, ASTERS, LIP BALM, SUNSCREEN, HAND SANIZER, MOE PADS, T-SHIRTS,… WE HAD A SMALL BUDGET BUT WE WANTED VISIBILY BEE MEANT PROGRS. CRACKER BARREL SELLS A GREAT NUMBER OF ROCKG CHAIRS, 10,000 MOST MONTHS AND THEY ARE INIC TO ’S BRAND. WE SIGNED A LIMED EDN RABOW PRI VERSN OF THAT FAMO ROCKG CHAIR AND UTILIZED THEM CTNS FOR LGBT ANIZATNS FUNDRAISG. IT BEME SO POPULAR BIDRS WOULD PAY $600 PARED TO THE REGULAR ROCKG CHAIRS THAT SELL FOR $160! THE NEXT YEAR WE WANTED TO GO FURTHER AND DO SOMETHG BIGGER SO WE HAD A MASSIVE ONE BUILT, TEN FEET TALL THAT SEAT 4 ADULTS! WE ED FOR PRI FTIVALS, OUT & EQUAL SUMM CONFERENC, AND CRACKER BARREL MANAGER CONFERENC. BEYOND THIS VISIBILY STRATEGY, WE FLUENCED HAVG GENR INTY ADD TO THE PANI DISCRIMATN POLICY, SAME-SEX PARTNERS BENEFS ADD AND FOR THE PAST YEAR HAVE DISCSED THE NEED FOR OFFERG TRANSGENR HEALTHRE BENEFS. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE BUT IS AMAZG THE PROGRS THAT WE HAVE MA! BEG ABLE TO EXPRS YOURSELF, YOUR TTH, TELL YOUR STORY, EMBRACE , AND LOVE YOURSELF ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THERE IS NOTHG MORE HURTFUL OR DAMAGG THAN TO BE -PHOBIC ABOUT YOURSELF. IT IS SELF-STCTIVE. WE ALL HAVE THOSE BIAS, BUT YOU SHOULD LOVE YOURSELF AND EVERY PART OF WHO YOU ARE!  WHEN I STARTED THIS ADVOCY WORK, I HAD TO TE MYSELF. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE TRANSGENR EXPERIENCE, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS LIKE TO BE AN LGBTIQ+ PERSON OF LOUR, BUT I STILL N TE MYSELF. INFORMATN IS KEY TO BE ABLE TO UNRSTAND OTHERS, ANSWER QUTNS, AND BUILD CREDIBILY. DON’T BE AAID TO ASK FOR MORE THAN YOU THK YOU ARE GOG TO GET, WHETHER BE FUNDGS, SPONSORS, OR VOLUNTEERS. I WOULD NEVER IMAGED I WOULD HAVE AN APPROVAL TO SPEND $3.000 ON A GIANT RABOW ROCKG CHAIR. WHEN I PROPOSED , I WAS PROFSNAL, EXPLAG WHAT I THOUGHT WE ULD E FOR, WE ULD E REPEATEDLY, AND THE CISN MAKERS SAW THE RETURN ON INVTMENT, I ASKED FOR MORE THAN WE EVER THOUGHT WE WOULD GA APPROVAL FOR. MY ADVICE WOULD BE IF YOU HAVE A STRONG WORK, REACH OUT TO PEOPLE TO ASK FOR GUIDANCE, HONT FEEDBACK OR SUPPORT. THAT IS THE STRENGTH OF THE CURRENT MOVEMENT, WOMEN’S MOVEMENT, OR THE BLACK LIV MATTER MOVEMENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE DIFFICULT DISCSNS.  YOU HAVE TO OPEN A HEART BEFORE YOU N OPEN A MD. IT IS NOT ALWAYS ONE PERSON ONT OF A THOAND, IS UALLY ONE TO ONE. TELL YOUR STORY.YOU HAVE TO BE NOVATIVE, AND BE PREPARED TO NOT TAKE THE MOST OBV PATH. IF I HAD TO TELL THE BIGGT MISTAKE I MA, IS THE TIME I DID NOT GET OUT OF MY WAY.  I HAVE LEARNED TO BE OUTSPOKEN BEE OF . HAVE NFINCE AND GO WH YOUR HEART!I AM EXCED ABOUT LIVG THIS TIME BEE I FEEL WE ARE AT A TURNG POT OUR WORLD’S HISTORY FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL. I PLAN TO NTUE SUPPORTG AND WORKG WH THOSE MY WORK AS WELL AS NTUG MY WORK WH THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN'S BS ADVISORY COUNCIL. I AM HONORED TO BE VOLVED WH BOWIE GENR+ PROJECTS AND OFFER MY SUPPORT. TOGETHER - LETS CHANGE THE WORLD!POUR NE RATER CUN ARTICLE:JE M'ABONNEALSO READ:I SIGNED THE FIRST GENR-NTRAL DOLL LE, WHICH KEEPS LABELS OUT AND V EVERYONE D'TR ARTICLMARCH 19, 2021WHY QUEER PEOPLE SHOULD LEAVE FACEBOOKMARCH 19, 2021SOCIETYWHAT HAS A YEAR OF LOCKDOWN TGHT THE LGBTQ+ MUNY?NOVEMBER 3, 2020EDUTNDORENA PADS : STAABLE PADS TO END MENSTAL STIGMA CAMEROON & SWZERLANDTO L ARTICLA SWISS ANIZATN THAT ENGAG PEOPLE TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE GENR NORMS NO LONGER FE WHO WE N BE, WHO WE N LOVE AND WHAT WE N ACHIEVE.L'ANISATNA PROPOSNOTRE IMPACTNOTRE éQUIPERECTEMENTCONTACTTERMS & PRIVACYCATéGORIENTREPRENRSHIPINNOVATNSOCIETYLOVE & LIFELIFTYLECULTUREEDUTNBSPARTICIPERREJODRE NOS ACTNSDEVENIR BéNéVOLEJOBSFAIRE UN DONNEWSLETTERJE M'ABONNECRéé AVEC ? à GENèVE, SUISSE © 2022INSTAGRAMACTUA PROPOSARTICLACTNSIMPACTM'ABONNERFAIRE UN DONJE M'ABONNENAMEEMAIL ADDRSTHANK YOU! YOUR SUBMISSN HAS BEEN RECEIVED!OOPS! SOMETHG WENT WRONG WHILE SUBMTG THE FORM.ABONNE-TOI POUR NE RIEN MANQUER

LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENR, INTERSEX MAYO EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP (LGBTI MERG)

Glamazon helps Amazon be a great place to work by tg and rmg employe about the Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgenr, and/or Queer (LGBTQ+) muny and opportuni.

I -FOUND AN LGBT EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP: WHY BEG GAY THE WORKPLACE SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUEWRTEN BYETIENNE GERMA PRéCéNTTOSUIVANTJULY 2, 2020I -FOUND AN LGBT EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP: WHY BEG GAY THE WORKPLACE SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUEUN ARTICLE ETIENNE GERMA BEYOUWORK LNCH THE ROLE MOL MPAIGN "GENR SHAPERS 2020", A WORLDWI SERI OF GENR+ ENTREPRENRS' PORTRAS. THEY WILL SHARE THEIR STORI, THEIR BS JOURNEY AND SHARE ADVICE TO MAKE AN IA A REALY, OM LNCH TO IMPACT. THIS WEEK, WE HAD A TALK WH STEVE OM LGBT ALLIANCE. ‍WE TALKED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE AS A GAY MAN THE WORKPLACE, HOW HE BEME A GAME CHANGER HIS PANY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BEG NFINT.“DON’T BE AAID TO ASK FOR MORE THAN YOU THK YOU ARE GOG TO GET, HAVE NFINCE AND FOLLOW YOUR HEART!”I AM STEVE SMOTHERMAN. I AM A HBAND AND HAVE BEEN WH MY SOULMATE FOR MORE THAN TWENTY-FIVE YEARS.  I’M FORTUNATE TO BE A FATHER OF TWO AND A GRANDFATHER OF FOUR.  I HAVE A VERY RICH AND BY LIFE! I WORKED AT CRACKER BARREL, A RTRANT-RETAIL PANY FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. CRACKER BARREL IS FAMO FOR THEIR HOMOPHOBIC POLICI STUTED BACK 1991. IN 2009, I WAS A FOUNDG MEMBER AND LED THE LGBT ALLIANCE, AN EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP, PROMOTG LGBTQ AWARENS AND BUILDG WORKPLACE CLN.‍I GREW UP RAL OH A NSERVATIVE, RELIG FAY. WE WERE A MIDDLE-CLASS AMERIN FAY, MY PARENTS WORKED VERY HARD. THE AREA WAS NOT THAT UNLIKE WHERE I LIVE NOW TENNSEE, WHICH IS A SMALLER TOWN JT OUTSI OF A LARGE CY. EVERYONE AROUND ME WAS WHE, CHRISTIAN, HETEROSEXUAL AND THAT WAS WHAT “NORMAL” WAS MY WORLD. MY FAY WOULD TRAVEL TO LARGER CI SOMETIM AND I WOULD WATCH TELEVISN SHOWS (THIS WAS BEFORE THE INTER - LOL) WHERE HELPED ME TO UNRSTAND THE WORLD WAS FULL OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND HELPED ME EVEN INTIFY WHO I WAS AND WANTED TO BE.I ME OUT 1993 WHEN I WAS 31 YEARS OLD. IT WAS A DIFFERENT DAY AND TIME THE WORLD! WHEN I WAS A YOUNG ADULT THE AIDS CRISIS WAS THE HEADL, PEOPLE WERE DYG EVERYWHERE. THIS LED TO MY TERNAL STGGLE TO DO WHAT I HAD BEEN TOLD WAS RIGHT THAT PHED ME EVEN FURTHER BACK THE CLOSET. MAKE NO MISTAKE, I DO NOT HAVE ANY REGRETS ABOUT BEG A LATE BLOOMER.  I HAVE TWO AMAZG SONS AND A FAY THAT MATTERS SO MUCH TO ME. WHEN I ME OUT, I KNEW I WOULD HAVE TO BE PATIENT WH MY FAY AND A LOT OF IENDS. THEY DID NOT KNOW THE THENTIC ME. I FELT THAT IENDS AND FAY WOULD NOT ACCEPT OR UNRSTAND WHAT I WAS FEELG WHEN TOOK ME SO LONG TO E TO TERMS WH BEG GAY MYSELF. ONCE I GOT THE NFINCE WH MYSELF AND I REALIZED FOR ME TO BE TLY HAPPY, TO BE A GOOD FATHER, AND A GOOD SPOE, I HAD TO BE HONT AND THENTIC. MOST PEOPLE DREAD AND FEAR G OUT, BUT I DO NOT KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS EVER REGRETTED ! THE G OUT PROCS NEVER STOPS. FOR EVERY NEW PERSON WE MEET, WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS CISN AGA, OM A STRANGER A STORE, TO A DOCTOR, ETC... IS THIS RMATN ABOUT ME RELEVANT TO SHARE? DO I HAVE THE NFINCE AND DO I FEEL SAFE? THIS PROCS IS EVERYDAY WH EVERY PERSON YOU MEET.I HAVE SEEN HOW G OUT IMPROV PEOPLE'S WORK PERFORMANCE, I HAVE SEEN HOW AFFECTED MY WORK AND THIS IS WHY I KNEW I HAD TO DO WHAT I ULD TO IMPROVE . THE CLN WORK I DO THE WORKPLACE IS VERY PERSONAL. I THK THIS IS ONE REASON I HAVE SUCH A PASSN FOR THE WORK: BUBBLED UP LIKE A PRSURE SI OF ME AND ONCE I ME OUT I HAD TO DO SOMETHG TO MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE. I ULD NOT CHANGE THE WHOLE WORLD, BUT AT LEAST I ULD IMPACT THE PEOPLE AROUND ME. PROFSNALLY, I BEGAN RETAIL AT GAP INC. AND THEN I MOVED TO LEARNG & DEVELOPMENT, WHICH CLUD DIVERSY & INCLN WORKIN 2005, I JOED CRACKER BARREL, A RTRANT/RETAIL PANY THAT IS NOSTALGIC AND VALU OLD-FASHNED SENSIBILI. IT DID NOT HAVE A GOOD REPUTATN WH THE LGBTQ MUNY AND I HATED WHEN I HAD THIS REER OPPORTUNY. AS A GAY MAN, WHEN YOU APPLY FOR A PLACE TO WORK, THE FIRST THG YOU REARCH IS IF YOU WILL BE WELED, BEE ONCE YOU E OUT, THERE IS NO TURNG BACK! I KNEW THERE WAS A LOT OF WORK TO DO FOR MAKG THIS NEW WORKPLACE CLIVE, BUT DURG THE TERVIEW PROCS, I REALIZED - THEY NEED ME MORE THAN I NEED THEM. MY IENDS WERE SURPRISED. THEY ASKED ME, “WHAT ARE YOU DOG? HOW N YOU WORK THERE?, THEY HATE GAY PEOPLE.” FOR ME WAS SIMPLE: THE WORK WAS WHAT I WANTED TRAG, WAS A SHORT MUTE, AND I ENJOYED THE PEOPLE I WORKED WH! THE ISSUE OF BEG GAY THE WORKPLACE IS THAT SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE! FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS OF MY TIME AT CRACKER BARREL, I HAD AN EMPHASIS ON DIVERSY & INCLN, PECIALLY WH LGBTQ WORKPLACE CLN. MY TRAG BACKGROUND ALLOWED ME TO UNRSTAND THE STEPS OF ADULT LEARNG, FACILATE DIFFICULT NVERSATNS AND BE EFFECTIVE AT DIVERSY & INCLN NTENT. I HAVE HAD AN TERTG REER PATH, AS WELL AS AN TERTG PERSONAL PATH, HAS NOT BEEN A DIRECT LEAR PATH, NEHER WHAT I HAD PLANNED, I FOLLOWED MY HEART MORE THAN ALWAYS FOLLOWG MY BRA! I HAD BEEN AT CRACKER BARREL FOR A UPLE OF YEARS AND I WANTED TO HAVE A BROAR IMPACT AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I HAD NO IA HOW THIS EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP WOULD END UP IMPACTG NOT ONLY ME, THE PEOPLE I WORKED WH, THE PANY NATNWI, BUT PEOPLE WELL OUTSI THE PANY. THIS TERVIEW BEG ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE EXPONENTIAL IMPACT, FAR BIGGER THAN I EVER ANTICIPATED.  I WAS A FOUNDG MEMBER OF THE LGBT ALLIANCE, AND LED THE EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP FOR MORE THAN TEN YEARS. CREATG AN ERG WAS NOT SO UNIQUE THE RPORATE WORLD, BUT FOR CRACKER BARREL WAS MONUMENTAL. CRACKER BARREL HAD A WOMEN’S ERG AND AN AIN-AMERIN ERG. WE STARTED THE LGBT ERG WH SIX PEOPLE. EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUPS OR BS ROURCE GROUPS HELP MORI TO HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL REPRENTATN, A VOICE AND A SEAT AT THE TABLE. OUR ERG BEGAN BY MEETG AFTER WORK PEOPLE’S HOM. AFTER A FEW MONTHS, WE EVENTUALLY BEME BOLD AND MOVED ONTO RPORATE PROPERTY, BUT FOUR OF OUR SIX PEOPLE DID NOT WANT TO MEET A ROOM THAT HAD WDOWS. I N REMEMBER THAT DAY VIVIDLY! I SAID, “IF WE NNOT MEET THE ROOM WH WDOWS BEE OF OUR FEAR AND THE LACK OF TST THE PEOPLE WE WORK WH, THIS IS WHY WE NEED STARTG THIS GROUP!! WHEN WE HAVE OUR MEETGS THE MIDDLE OF THE URTYARD OF THE BUILDG WH RABOW FLAGS WE WILL KNOW WE HAVE MA !” EVENTUALLY WE DID THAT AND MUCH MORE! THE ERG GREW SLOW AT FIRST, BUT WAS A BOLD MOVE WHEN YOU KNEW THE HISTORY OF THE PANY. CRACKER BARREL OPENED S FIRST RTRANT THE SMALL TOWN OF LEBANON, TENNSEE, A SOUTHERN NSERVATIVE STATE. IT WAS 1969, JT TWO MONTHS AFTER THE STONEWALL RTS. CRACKER BARREL CULTURE IS EP NOSTALGIA, EXTREMELY OLD-FASHNED. IT HAS SCE GROWN TO 670 LOTNS NATNWI, 3 BILLN DOLLARS ANNUAL SAL, MORE THAN 76,000 EMPLOYE. TO BETTER UNRSTAND THE STIGMA WH CRACKER BARREL AND THE LGBT MUNY, LET'S LOOK BACK AT WHERE I BELIEVE THE DISNNECT STARTED. IN 1991, WHILE THE AIDS PANMIC WAS AT S HEIGHT, THE PANY STUTED A POLICY THAT BEME FAMO AND FAMO. THE MEMO OF THE POLICY STATED, “CRACKER BARREL IS FOUND UPON A NCEPT OF TRADNAL AMERIN VALU, QUALY ALL WE DO, AND A PHILOSOPHY OF A 100% GUT SATISFACTN. IT IS NSISTENT WH OUR NCEPT AND VALU AND IS PERCEIVED TO BE NSISTENT WH THOSE OF THE CTOMER BASE, TO NTUE TO EMPLOY DIVIDUALS OUR OPERATG UNS WHOSE SEXUAL PREFERENC FAIL TO MONSTRATE NORMAL HETEROSEXUAL VALU WHICH HAVE BEEN THE FOUNDATN OF FAI OUR SOCIETY.” AS A RULT, ELEVEN LONG-STANDG EMPLOYE WERE FIRED AND THEIR TERMATN PAPERWORK CLEARLY STATED THE REASON FOR THEIR TERMATN “EMPLOYEE IS GAY.” I DID NOT WORK AT CRACKER BARREL AT THE TIME BUT I REMEMBER SEEG THE NEWS AND SEEG THE MONSTRATNS. IT MA NATNAL HEADL CLUDG CNN AND THE NEW YORK TIM.  THE TERMATED EMPLOYE APPEARED ON OPRAH WEY, 20/20, LARRY KG, AND OTHER NATNAL TELEVISN SHOWS. AGA THIS WAS 1991. THE BACKLASH WAS SO PABLE AND THEY ONLY KEPT THE POLICY FOR SIX WEEKS. IT WASNT UNTIL 2001 THAT  THE PANY ADD THE SEXUAL ORIENTATN THE ANTI-DISCRIMATN POLICY UNR PRSURE OM S VTORS. I JOED CRACKER BARREL 2005 AND WE BEGAN THE EMPLOYEE ROURCE GROUP LGBT ALLIANCE 2009. WE HAD FOUR OBJECTIV TO GUI OUR ERGS WORK: DEVELOPMENT - TO PROVI A WORK THAT SUPPORTS THAT SUPPORTS THE PROFSNAL VELOPMENT OF LBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENR EMPLOYE AND THEIR ALLIEDUTN - TO SERVE AS A ROURCE AND POT OF NTACT FOR S MEMBERS, THOSE SEEKG OR NSIRG EMPLOYMENT WH THE COMPANY, AND FOR OTHER TERTED DIVIDUALS OR GROUPSRECMENT - TO SERVE AS A ROURCE AND POT OF NTACT FOR S MEMBERS, THOSE SEEKG OR NSIRG EMPLOYMENT WH THE COMPANY, AND FOR OTHER TERTED DIVIDUALS OR GROUPSOUTREACH - STRENGTHEN CRACKER BARREL’S RELATNSHIP WH THE LGBT MUNY‍WE LEARNED TO BE BOLD, TAKE A BREATH AND JUMP OFF THE CLIFF SOMETIM. WE KNEW PROGRS WOULD NEVER BE AS FAST AS WE WANTED BUT WE KNEW NOT TO BE OFFENSIVE AND TURN PEOPLE OFF. I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I SPOKE ONT OF OUR ENTIRE RPORATE OFFICE OF NEARLY 700 PEOPLE ABOUT OUR LGBT ALLIANCE. I REVIEWED OUR ERG’S FOUR OBJECTIV. WHEN I SPOKE ABOUT OUR OUTREACH AND ALL THE PANI AND ANIZATNS THE LGBT ALLIANCE HAD WORKED WH, I NOTICED PEOPLE WERE WHISPERG TO EACH OTHER. I TOO REALIZED HOW MUCH WE HAD ACPLISHED AND I EXPLAED,  “WE HAVE OVERACHIEVED OUR FOURTH OBJECTIVE OF OUTREACH. WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH THE MUNY BEE WE FEEL SAFER OUT THERE, THAN WE FEEL HERE, AT WORK. WE NEED TO CHANGE THAT AND YOU N HELP ME CHANGE THAT STARTG TODAY!”THIS BOLD MOMENT MA NFINT AND WE STARTED PROGRAMS TO MAKE FEEL MORE FORTABLE AND EFFECTIVE. ONE WAS THE “BRGG YOUR WHOLE SELF TO WORK” IATIVE.  WE DISCSED HOW IMPORTANT IS TO BRG OUR WHOLE SELF TO WORK.  WHAT IF YOU DO NOT? WOULD YOU RAISE YOUR HAND AND PARTICIPATE AT WORK? WOULD YOU SHARE YOUR IAS OR FILTER THEM? PARTICIPANTS WERE VED TO SHARE THEIR LIV AND FAY PICTUR.  THERE WERE MULTIRACIAL FAI, SPO WH PHYSIL DISABILI, OR SOME UPL HAD AGE GAPS. WE DISPLAYED THE PICTUR THE WORKPLACE AND CREATED GROUNDBREAKG NVERSATNS.  THIS BEME AN ONGOG CHANGE AGENT THE PANY AND MA PEOPLE PROUD TO BRG THEIR WHOLE SELV TO WORK. OUR GROUP BEME RELENTLS MARKETG, ACTUALLY MARKETG MANIACS! WE BRAND OUR LGBT ALLIANCE ERG. WE PROFSNALLY SIGNED OUR LOGO, WE CHOSE A FONT LOR, STYLE, AND SIZE SO PEOPLE WOULD REGNIZE IMMEDIATELY OUR MUNITNS OM EMAILS TO POSTERS. WE HAD BRAND K PENS, WATER BOTTL, BACKPACKS, ASTERS, LIP BALM, SUNSCREEN, HAND SANIZER, MOE PADS, T-SHIRTS,… WE HAD A SMALL BUDGET BUT WE WANTED VISIBILY BEE MEANT PROGRS. CRACKER BARREL SELLS A GREAT NUMBER OF ROCKG CHAIRS, 10,000 MOST MONTHS AND THEY ARE INIC TO ’S BRAND. WE SIGNED A LIMED EDN RABOW PRI VERSN OF THAT FAMO ROCKG CHAIR AND UTILIZED THEM CTNS FOR LGBT ANIZATNS FUNDRAISG. IT BEME SO POPULAR BIDRS WOULD PAY $600 PARED TO THE REGULAR ROCKG CHAIRS THAT SELL FOR $160! THE NEXT YEAR WE WANTED TO GO FURTHER AND DO SOMETHG BIGGER SO WE HAD A MASSIVE ONE BUILT, TEN FEET TALL THAT SEAT 4 ADULTS! WE ED FOR PRI FTIVALS, OUT & EQUAL SUMM CONFERENC, AND CRACKER BARREL MANAGER CONFERENC. BEYOND THIS VISIBILY STRATEGY, WE FLUENCED HAVG GENR INTY ADD TO THE PANI DISCRIMATN POLICY, SAME-SEX PARTNERS BENEFS ADD AND FOR THE PAST YEAR HAVE DISCSED THE NEED FOR OFFERG TRANSGENR HEALTHRE BENEFS. THERE IS STILL A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE BUT IS AMAZG THE PROGRS THAT WE HAVE MA! BEG ABLE TO EXPRS YOURSELF, YOUR TTH, TELL YOUR STORY, EMBRACE , AND LOVE YOURSELF ARE VERY IMPORTANT. THERE IS NOTHG MORE HURTFUL OR DAMAGG THAN TO BE -PHOBIC ABOUT YOURSELF. IT IS SELF-STCTIVE. WE ALL HAVE THOSE BIAS, BUT YOU SHOULD LOVE YOURSELF AND EVERY PART OF WHO YOU ARE!  WHEN I STARTED THIS ADVOCY WORK, I HAD TO TE MYSELF. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE TRANSGENR EXPERIENCE, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS LIKE TO BE AN LGBTIQ+ PERSON OF LOUR, BUT I STILL N TE MYSELF. INFORMATN IS KEY TO BE ABLE TO UNRSTAND OTHERS, ANSWER QUTNS, AND BUILD CREDIBILY. DON’T BE AAID TO ASK FOR MORE THAN YOU THK YOU ARE GOG TO GET, WHETHER BE FUNDGS, SPONSORS, OR VOLUNTEERS. I WOULD NEVER IMAGED I WOULD HAVE AN APPROVAL TO SPEND $3.000 ON A GIANT RABOW ROCKG CHAIR. WHEN I PROPOSED , I WAS PROFSNAL, EXPLAG WHAT I THOUGHT WE ULD E FOR, WE ULD E REPEATEDLY, AND THE CISN MAKERS SAW THE RETURN ON INVTMENT, I ASKED FOR MORE THAN WE EVER THOUGHT WE WOULD GA APPROVAL FOR. MY ADVICE WOULD BE IF YOU HAVE A STRONG WORK, REACH OUT TO PEOPLE TO ASK FOR GUIDANCE, HONT FEEDBACK OR SUPPORT. THAT IS THE STRENGTH OF THE CURRENT MOVEMENT, WOMEN’S MOVEMENT, OR THE BLACK LIV MATTER MOVEMENT. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE DIFFICULT DISCSNS.  YOU HAVE TO OPEN A HEART BEFORE YOU N OPEN A MD. IT IS NOT ALWAYS ONE PERSON ONT OF A THOAND, IS UALLY ONE TO ONE. TELL YOUR STORY.YOU HAVE TO BE NOVATIVE, AND BE PREPARED TO NOT TAKE THE MOST OBV PATH. IF I HAD TO TELL THE BIGGT MISTAKE I MA, IS THE TIME I DID NOT GET OUT OF MY WAY.  I HAVE LEARNED TO BE OUTSPOKEN BEE OF . HAVE NFINCE AND GO WH YOUR HEART!I AM EXCED ABOUT LIVG THIS TIME BEE I FEEL WE ARE AT A TURNG POT OUR WORLD’S HISTORY FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL. I PLAN TO NTUE SUPPORTG AND WORKG WH THOSE MY WORK AS WELL AS NTUG MY WORK WH THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN'S BS ADVISORY COUNCIL. I AM HONORED TO BE VOLVED WH BOWIE GENR+ PROJECTS AND OFFER MY SUPPORT. TOGETHER - LETS CHANGE THE WORLD!POUR NE RATER CUN ARTICLE:JE M'ABONNEALSO READ:I SIGNED THE FIRST GENR-NTRAL DOLL LE, WHICH KEEPS LABELS OUT AND V EVERYONE D'TR ARTICLMARCH 19, 2021WHY QUEER PEOPLE SHOULD LEAVE FACEBOOKMARCH 19, 2021SOCIETYWHAT HAS A YEAR OF LOCKDOWN TGHT THE LGBTQ+ MUNY?NOVEMBER 3, 2020EDUTNDORENA PADS : STAABLE PADS TO END MENSTAL STIGMA CAMEROON & SWZERLANDTO L ARTICLA SWISS ANIZATN THAT ENGAG PEOPLE TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE GENR NORMS NO LONGER FE WHO WE N BE, WHO WE N LOVE AND WHAT WE N ACHIEVE.L'ANISATNA PROPOSNOTRE IMPACTNOTRE éQUIPERECTEMENTCONTACTTERMS & PRIVACYCATéGORIENTREPRENRSHIPINNOVATNSOCIETYLOVE & LIFELIFTYLECULTUREEDUTNBSPARTICIPERREJODRE NOS ACTNSDEVENIR BéNéVOLEJOBSFAIRE UN DONNEWSLETTERJE M'ABONNECRéé AVEC ? à GENèVE, SUISSE © 2022INSTAGRAMACTUA PROPOSARTICLACTNSIMPACTM'ABONNERFAIRE UN DONJE M'ABONNENAMEEMAIL ADDRSTHANK YOU! YOUR SUBMISSN HAS BEEN RECEIVED!OOPS! SOMETHG WENT WRONG WHILE SUBMTG THE FORM.ABONNE-TOI POUR NE RIEN MANQUER

In the first, I was relatively junr and havg lunch at a rtrant wh a McKsey partner and a client, and the client mented that there were often lots of gay people at the rtrant.