June was Pride Month and we celebrated inclusiveness and the inherent strength that resides in diversity. Our LGBTQ+ team members enrich our organizational culture and the services we provide to the community. We stand as an advocate and ally of the LGBTQ+ community as there’s much work to be done in working to end discrimination and affording equal rights to our peers, family and community members. The first Pride parade was in response to the Stonewall Uprising of 1969 which helped fuel the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States. Each year Pride events celebrate the beautiful diversity of the LGBTQ+ community, emphasize the need for acceptance and inclusiveness, and highlights the journey and struggle towards equal rights.
Thank you to all our Quest team members who participated in Pride activities and celebrations.
Derek’s Story
Thank you to Quest team member Derek for sharing his #PrideStory! Expressing and validating our experiences goes a long way in encouraging others along their journeys. Thank you for sharing such a personal and touching reflection, Derek!
“My story is about leaving my old life behind because I was scared of the ramifications that I thought my sexual orientation held among my family and friends. I was also worried about how it might hurt my future career aspirations. After coming out, not a single person in my life responded negatively — they were all accepting and happy and I realized I had overthought this myself. After years of hiding who I was, I was happy to be myself. Part of the reason I wanted to join Quest, Inc. was that inclusivity is embedded in the culture here and that I knew that it was a safe and embracing organization.”
