2019 Rainbow Luncheon Welcome

Good afternoon, thank you all for joining us today for this year’s Rainbow Luncheon. This event is such an important one on campus, so I’m very glad to see the room full with so many members of our Bentley community.

Before we begin today’s program, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge those who made this special day possible. First, I’d like to thank the students, faculty and staff who have organized today’s event and who work so hard all year to support out LGBTQ community members. We’re so lucky to have organizations like our student group PRIDE and our faculty and staff LGBTQ Steering Committee to foster an inclusive environment for our LGBTQ community. Because of advocates like you, we can be sure that we celebrate the many contributions of our LGBTQ students, faculty and staff, and that our community is educated on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ community locally and abroad. From campus-wide Ally Workshops and brown bag discussions to our annual PRIDE flag-raising ceremony, your collective efforts help to make Bentley a more inclusive, inviting community of learners.   

I’d also like to thank our keynote speaker Wesley Combs for joining us today to share his experience helping corporations to lead in advocating for the LGBTQ community. Wesley, I’m glad you’re here to help us celebrate this special day. And lastly, I want to thank our Office of Diversity and Inclusion for all they do to support such important initiatives on our campus and to give a special welcome to Matt Banks who recently joined this office.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots when police officers raided the Stonewall Inn nightclub in New York City, leading to days of confrontations and violence against LGBTQ people. We have come a long way since 1969 but there is still work to be done, there’s no question about that. There are still communities in our country and abroad where individuals are unable to safely come out to family or friends. Disproportionate numbers of LGBTQ youth experience homelessness compared to straight, cisgender youth. Workplace discrimination and acts of violence against transgender people have risen by a disturbing amount.

On Broadway, the play “The Inheritance,” currently in previews and set to open next month, serves as a powerful reminder of all who were affected due to the lack of attention to the AIDS crisis and all that may be lost if hard won LGBTQ rights are reduced or eliminated by future court decisions.     

Earlier this month, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in three groundbreaking cases about workplace discrimination against queer and transgender individuals. Each of these cases involved someone who was fired from their job due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, highlighting the reality of the discrimination LGBTQ individuals still face. These cases show why the legacy of Stonewall is still important today. As future and current academic and business leaders, each of us must be prepared to advocate for and actively include queer and transgender individuals in our conversations, business decisions and leadership teams. Without this inclusion, we will erode the progress the LGBTQ community has valiantly fought for. Equally as important, we will be denying our organizations and society from fully benefiting from the talents of our LGBTQ friends and colleagues.

Though challenges still exist, I’m optimistic we are moving in the right direction towards a more open, accepting future. I see it on campus in the ways we advocate for one another and champion LGBTQ initiatives. I’ve seen it at home, too. My son Kent is out and proud, and I’ve long been encouraged by his work and advocacy. While at Stanford, he served as president of Queerituality, a student group that builds bridges between LGBTQ and religious communities, and he continues that work in other ways now that he has graduated and is working. I’m proud of him every day and hopeful that his voice and yours will lead to a more informed and open tomorrow.       

It’s up to us as a community to stand up against intolerance and injustice. All of us – students, faculty and staff – must advocate not only on our campus but in all of our communities. LGBTQ advocacy shouldn’t stop when we leave campus—it must be woven into our everyday interactions with the outside world. I am glad to know that the world has such passionate, empowering leaders like the advocates I see around me in this room who will push for equality and representation and stand up alongside those seeking justice and positive change. The talent, energy and enthusiasm in this room give me great hope for a future in which different lifestyles will be embraced and celebrated.

Again, thank you all for being here today, and I hope you enjoy this important event.