Phish Pride Month

Speaker: Phish (He/They), Sr. Sales Ops Analyst, Sunrun

Phish (He/They): Hi, my name is Phish. I use they them and he him pronounce and for pride. I celebrate by going to the festival, going to gay bars, going to drag shows, going to queer owned businesses and just celebrate being more open. So that way other people who are in the LGBTQ+ community can see that they are included and they are loved and that we are a community much bigger than people might expect. Pride. For me means it's a reminder to unburden myself of the shame that I and so many queer people grow up with where often told by sis straight people, what the appropriate way to be queer is and pride. A pride festival was the first moment where I got to have those conversations with other proudly queer people. And to really understand that I can define what I am and I am empowered and celebrated to live authentically. Pride is shedding away all of that baggage that I grew up with. That sticks to us throughout the years even now and to shed that and to instead be authentic.

Phish (He/They): To make an impact both during Pride Month and beyond. especially for allies of the community, ensure that where you are hearing the narrative about the queer community is from the queer community. There are a lot of stories that get sent out by people outside of the community trying to define what is happening to us. Instead, make sure that you're hearing it from us. Start there because ally ship without first listening is imposing yourself into a community that you don't know fully about. And we're still learning how to be more inclusive and intersectional. We want our allies to know that as well. So again, to make an impact first listen more and then you'll know what to do.