June is Pride Month. What started in 1970 as an event to commemorate the Stonewall Riots has transformed into a nationwide movement of celebration, protest, and political activism. 

Large events and marches highlight the month’s celebrations, but individuals’ feelings and experiences are the true measure of the work still to be done. Everyone being able to be their full, authentic self in all aspects of their life is achievable, and the workplace is one of those aspects where progress can still be made.  

My husband and I had a commitment ceremony in 2001, long before a legal marriage was an option or even a dream. A few months after the ceremony, I decided to change my last name to match his. This required some legal documents to be completed and I had to appear before a judge, but the difficult part was how I would respond to questions about why I changed my name.  

I was working at a credit union, so not only would my coworkers notice the change, but our members and customers that knew me would as well. This was Indiana, and I wasn’t too open about my personal life at the time outside of family and friends. However, I decided I wasn’t going to lie or make up a story about why I was changing my name; I was going to be honest with anyone that asked. Fortunately, when I completed the necessary employment forms through HR, there were two HR professionals who were very supportive.  

The experience allowed me to have conversations with people whose views and beliefs might be different from my own. A part of me believes that I had some small role in creating positive outcomes at my employer, and I can thank HR professionals for helping to create a place where I could be my authentic self. 

Fast forward 20 years later and I am the CEO of SHRM-Atlanta where I helped facilitate the creation of the organization’s core values of embracing diversity of thought and recognizing and supporting individualism with respect, compassion, empathy, and allyship. 

HR professionals play a huge role in helping people along similar journeys to mine. I encourage you to use Pride Month as a catalyst to do that for someone who faces barriers to openly being themselves. Here are some of the resources you can use to help start the conversation: 

I am proud to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community, and I am lucky to be a part of the SHRM-Atlanta community and play a role in creating workplaces that allow individuals to be their full, authentic self. 

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Jason Cline, CAE, is the current CEO of SHRM-Atlanta. Previously, Jason was the President & CEO of the Printing & Imaging Association of Georgia. There, Jason spearheaded the development and execution of a strategic plan and led a highly profitable insurance arm of the organization. Prior to that role, he was the Strategic Initiatives Executive at the Association of College Unions International, the Section Membership Development Manager at the American Bar Association, and he began his association career as the Director of Membership at the Roller Skating Association International.

Jason has called Atlanta home since 2016 when he moved here from Indianapolis.