Celebrating Pride Month
June 23, 2023
Every June, Bio-Rad joins others around the world in celebrating Pride, an entire month dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ+ voices, culture, and rights. The LGBTQ+ rights movement has made tremendous strides over the past few decades, but we recognize that additional progress and visibility is needed, especially during Pride Month. As part of our celebration this month, Bio-Rad invited US employees the opportunity to talk about what Pride means to them. Here's what they had to say.
Steven Wang, Engineering Manager, Digital Biology Group (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
What makes you proud to be part of the LGBTQIA+ Community or act as an Ally?
I’m proud to be part of a community that has fought so hard for our human rights and to see the growing acceptance both in the public and in my own family. Coming out was very difficult as I lived in the South and my culture is not traditionally accepting of being LGBTQIA+. I never imagined then I would be able to get married to the person I love. Both my husband and I are immigrants from other countries that are not accepting of being LGBTQIA+. The life we have built together is a reminder of how far we have come and how much we have accomplished as a community.
What activities or traditions do you participate in during the month of Pride?
My husband and I met in June so it’s always a special month for us to celebrate our anniversary. In the past, I have also attended Pride. Nowadays, we like to spend time with family and friends as a reminder of the wonderful support system we have.
Shannon Kilkenny, Scientist, Digital Biology Group (Boulder, Colorado)
What makes you proud to be part of the LGBTQIA+ Community or act as an Ally?
My wife (pictured at right) makes me proud to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community. The outreach and influence that she has in her career and within our community as a whole is astounding. I am so proud to be married to someone who takes inclusion and equity so seriously. Being married to her has given me the strength to be proud to be queer and to wear it on my sleeve so that no one needs to feel afraid to be themselves around me. Because of her, I don't have to apologize for who I am.
What activities or traditions do you participate in during the month of Pride?
This month, we will be lucky enough to host a workout through the OUT foundation at a local crossfit gym for our community (including allies). We always celebrate at Denver Pride and try to make it to local area prides if we can. We love to celebrate Pride all year long by being out and proud so that those who aren't ready will have an example of what safe love looks like.
Jim Fitzpatrick, Global e-Business Manager, Global Commercial Services (Hercules, California)
What makes you proud to be part of the LGBTQIA+ Community or act as an Ally?
I am super proud and happy to be part of this wonderful, inclusive community. But it wasn't always that way. As a teen, when I realized I was different from others around me, I fought it. For years I wanted to be 'normal', like others, but I couldn't change the way I was and am. At 18, I burst open the closet door and it was the most liberating experience of my life. I quickly discovered that others in my high school, including our class president, were also members of this community - I wasn't alone! I am also very fortunate to have, in my early 20s, met the love of my life, and on June 24, 2023, we celebrate 43 years together. We've been legally married since 2008. Our wedding followed the 'Gavin Newsom San Francisco wedding order' of 2004, later annulled by the courts, where we spent 8 hours in line at SF City Hall. The following Monday I received lots of congratulations from Bio-Rad peers and managers who had seen us on the bay area news and CNN!
What activities or traditions do you participate in during the month of Pride?
Attend the Sacramento Pride Parade and Festival, and sometimes San Francisco too. Went to NYC in 2019 for the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. Attend Sacramento Gay Men's Chorus Pride Concert. Contribute to the Sacramento LGBTQ Community Center (a year-round activity actually).
John Gwynn, Mechanical/Electrical Designer, Clinical Diagnostics (Hercules, California)
What makes you proud to be part of the LGBTQIA+ Community or act as an Ally?
I recently read online that Pride Month is a sort of silly tradition with ridiculous flags and parades, but that we do it because there are scared queer people who live in places where it's dangerous for them to just be themselves and live full and complete lives; and we need to keep fighting and celebrating until its safe for everyone to do that.
What activities or traditions do you participate in during the month of Pride?
There is nothing I do that is that different during the month of Pride, as I already frequent gay establishments and bars and celebrate with gay friends. I suppose there are more festivities and parades to attend, and I always try to go and experience a part of gay culture that is new to me.
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