By Kyle McClure, Partner Marketing Manager, DailyPay

Pride month each year not only serves as an annual celebration for our community but also a time to remember our history and those who have paved the way to make life as an LGBTQ+ person easier for each new generation. As we honor those who did the work before us, Pride month serves as a moment to reflect on the work left to be done as prejudice and politics take new shape, now more than ever directed at the trans and non-binary members of our community. As I reflect back on my own journey of coming into my own as a gay man, I remember those who championed me early on and gave me a foundation to be who I am today.

In the time when I was coming out, the workplace ended up being a pillar of support for me. I was a college intern at Pittsburgh’s own River City Brass, North America’s only full-time, professional brass band and organization. I was nervous to share my identity with my colleagues, but we were a tight-knit group and they were immediately supportive. Fortunately I wasn’t even the only one. Not only did I get their support, but a major mentorship came out of it with a fellow community member. It’s as if owning my own truth not only allowed them to see me more wholly but also opened up doors to opportunities and mentorship that suited me and the development that would serve me most.

I’ve worked in several unique workplaces since my days as an intern. In some of them, I was the only queer in the village while, in others, I had community. What I do know is that the positive foundation I received when coming out at work for the first time is what allowed me to grow into other workplaces and roles, always remembering that sharing myself fully is the key to unlocking the opportunities that have and will continue to fuel my own, unique personal development path.

The reality is that not everyone has the same luck and privilege as me in being able to come out in a supportive workplace environment. I was able to do so with a level of psychological safety that is not guaranteed. However, my message remains the same. If your psychological safety is put at risk when sharing your true self, then it’s worth reevaluating what value that environment actually has to offer you and your growth.

Following that line of thinking has consistently led me to accepting environments on my queer journey, and my experience in the tech and fintech space has been a powerful confirmation of this. Landing my first tech role, and ultimately joining DailyPay, truly solidified that for me. I look around and see my community at work each day, and I marvel at how each one of us uniquely tackles projects, navigates worklife, and shines as they create their own image and grow in their careers. It’s not always easy, but the community and the support is behind them (and me) as we leave our shining mark on each bit of work we touch.