by Mary Ann Horton

My name is Mary Ann Horton, and I’m from San Diego, California.  Think back to 1997. I was a closeted cross-dresser working for Lucent Technologies in Columbus, Ohio. I kneSo I was ready for my first day at work as Mary Ann. I’d waited until I had a good reason to do it. On National Coming Out Day, in 1998, we had a gay couple that owned a res...

by Jeremy Rashad Brown

Hi, I’m Jeremy Rashad Brown. I am from Waxahachie, Texas.    Seventeen years ago, I went to UT where I majored in American studies and music business. And upon graduatAnd so I took a leap. I saw that as my opportunity to go ahead and see what being an artist is in this world, and even more specifically within the city of Austin. I liquidated my...

by Greg Miraglia

I’m Greg Miraglia, and I’m from Moraga, California.  In 1978, I discovered law enforcement as a possible career. I got really excited about it and I had a chance to jAnd I was thinking to myself, here I am working with colleagues and everybody’s afraid. And if anybody knew that I was gay, they would see me as a threat and I knew I’...

by Angie Harden

My name is Angie Harden. I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  When I was 15, I got my first job. I was thrilled to have my first job. I was lucky enough to work at a recreationaSo I called HR and I said very confidently, “I am certain that this is what has happened to me. I have been fired for being gay. Take a look at my file, take a look at my re...

by James Garcia

Hi, my name is James Garcia and I am from New York City.  In 1996, I enlisted in the Air Force. During that time, don’t ask, don’t tell was in place. That means the mI eventually gave the commander of the base at that time a letter disclosing who I am. v The conversation moved to “Well, we’re going to ask you to leave the base now,...

by Cherokee Lindsay

My name is Cherokee Lindsay, and I’m from the Bronx, New York.  About four years ago, four or five years ago or so, I was at a place in my life where I was happy with my joThe judge ruled in my favor. I didn’t have to pay any of the unemployment back, and ultimately they left me alone. I just remember thinking that I wanted to put this all beh...

by Shellby Forbes

I did a lot of self-reflecting and I was able to self-identify as well as to allow myself, my inner Shellby, to come alive.I am Shellby Forbes. I am from Brooklyn, New York. So in early 2000s, I started in the finance industry working in retail banking. And during that timeframe, I started off as a teSo COVID happens, and during that timeframe I had the opportunity to work from home remote. And during this timeframe, I did a lot of self-reflecting and I was able to self-identi...

by Barton Jackson

My name is Barton Lee Jackson II. I’m from Eagle, Idaho. Idaho is an at-will employment state, so by the same concept that you can leave your job at any point without any justif...

by T.J. Mannix

My name is T.J. Mannix, I’m from Boca Raton, Florida. I realized once I had an inkling that I was gay, I realized that if I won awards and if I got trophies and if I got honors ...