More Than a Label | GM Voice Pride

More Than a Label | GM Voice Pride

General Motors General Motors

General Motors

Published Jun 28, 2023
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June is recognized in the U.S. and across the globe as Pride Month—a celebration of LGBTQ+ people and our progress toward a world that’s inclusive of all identities.

To celebrate, we’re taking a moment to recognize that the unique members of the LGBTQ+ community are more than their labels — they're engineers, parents, artists, musicians and everything in between. Keep reading to meet a few of our LGBTQ+ team members.

Mariko Siewenie (she/they). Acoustics Engineer. "My career at GM began at Fort Wayne Assembly. Working in manufacturing provided a new set of challenges - and also introduced me to some of the most incredible people. They not only taught me about the vehicles we build, but also fueled my confidence and empowered me to come out at work. I began sharing my identity with my coworkers, volunteering with GM PLUS, and eventually joined the board as GM PLUS president. Now I'm "out" in all aspects of my life, and the overwhelming sense of calm I feel has allowed me to serve and support others within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. I am an engineer. I am non-binary. I am a dog parent. I am a president (crazy, right!?) I am disabled. I am biracial Japanese-American. I'm so much more than a label, and you are too."
Sabin Blake (he/him). National Business Communications.  “Before my current role in communications, I spent years representing Gm around the country in the field. It was there that I first shard my identify as gay. For many of my dealers and colleagues, I was the first or only gay person they had ever met. I often became their primary resource for advice or direction on personal or professional LGBTQ+ matters. Relationships have always been incredibly important to me and I’m very proud to have created a wide range of authentic connections that have endured the test of time. For me, the key to establishing relationships is getting to know each individual as humans first, establishing mutual respect and always be kind. I am more than my label, and I wish everyone a happy Pride!”
Rishi Chawla (he/him). Assistant Program Purchasing Manager. “I do not believe in compartmentalizing myself or any other person. Growing up outside of the United States in two Asian countries, I didn’t meet another LGBTQ+ person until I was 18, so I often processed my struggles alone. Over time, I realized that “straight” people never came out as straight, so I started questioning – why do we have to “come out” as anything? I’ve always been about the person, not the label. I use the exact same philosophy at work: I’m always my authentic self. If people assume things based on my behavior, I have learned it is out of my control. With the world becoming more diverse each day, being LGBT is not a personality trait. At the end of the day, I’m more than a letter in LGBTQ+, I’m Just me.”
Brian Van Pelt (he/him). GMS team member.  “I entered the workspace many years ago and hid my true self out of fear of rejection and retaliation in the workplace. It took transferring from my initial plant and several other locations to fully feel comfortable. Today, I’m the co-lead of my plant ERG for GM PLUS, a member of the national advisory council for civil and human rights, and the first civil rights activist featured on the billboard for the “Earn a Living, Make a Life” campaign. I was also the only UAW employee to accompany GM PLUS to the Out & Equal conference in 2022. Being able to share my authentic self has been not only a huge honor, but an opportunity to support my community and help change people’s lives. I am more than my label, and this is what inclusion means to me.”
Emma Robirts (she/her). Software Developer.  “As a kid I learned to avoid uncomfortable conversations about my identity before I had even given most people in my life a chance. It wasn’t until I was an adult living far away from my old hometown that I was able to look back and see how being in the closet affected my ability to function. Since coming out as transgender and pansexual, I have accepted the parts of myself that I once had so much anxiety and fear of showing to others – and I feel like an entirely new person. I realize now that I’m free to love others, to love myself, and express who I am to the world around me. The most amazing part of this entire journey isn’t just being free from the anxiety that kept me boxed in; it’s being accepted as the real me, not the version of myself I present to others.  I am more than my label.”

We know there’s more work to be done when it comes to creating a better world for the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups, and it all starts with us. By recognizing that we’re all more than our labels, we can break down barriers and help create inclusion for everyone.

Isa Valentim

Coordenadora Financeira na Fênix Treinamentos Segurança do trabalho e Medicina

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Wendell Childs Sr.

Safety Professional Leader at North American Engineering & Tooling Center (Support ) - Pre-Production Operations buildings North & South - Smith Manufacturing buildings A, B & C - Additive Industrialization Center

1y

Great message...

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