“In 2015, I had the pleasure of working with the awesome folks in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Advisory Committee (LGBTAC) at Goddard on the development of a training session for first-line supervisors to utilize inclusive language and create an inclusive environment for the LGBTQ workforce. As a participant in the panel of speakers, I shared my past experiences, positive and negative, with the goal of educating managers on why the language we use every day matters.
“Diversity goes beyond just black or white, gay or straight. It delves deep into the way we think, the way we were raised, and ultimately the person we bring to work each day. The different facets of the jewel of diversity matter. It’s our job and responsibility to celebrate diversity, listen to one another, and better ourselves from our differences, rather than let them tear us apart.”
— Jonathan Weiland, Technology Enterprise Mission Pathfinder Office (TEMPO) Resources Analyst, Goddard Space Flight Center