Private Me vs Public Me.
The moment I leave my home and step into the uncharted territory I call the world, I always ensure that I carry my identification card so if stopped i can say who I am , but most importantly I ensure that I bring my identities with me , not words listed on a card, identities that define who I am as a person. I am a Gay German-Mexican Marxist who is always proud to speak on my views and why I believe in them. With that, there is always this concern I have when going out in public. Privately, I can wave any flag I may, but in public the flags come down. While my political views I hold in high esteem, my views may change or be altered, but the flag that I am still hesitant to raise is my Gay-Pride flag. While it is socially acceptable being gay, you never know what people on the street think. The difference between my political views and my Gay identity is my politics can always change, but being gay is who I am at the core. It defines my way to love and who I love.
While the world is ever-so changing, many mindsets of people still hold firm, especially in the mind of religious people. While I applaud anyone who has passion, but the uncomfortable aspect of religious people I have is no longer am I being judged on policy, but solely based on practice. Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and others alike are driven by one of the core aspects of intolerance for those who choose whom to love.
While socially the challenge is there, when it comes to work, there is never the perfect work setting to which everyone feels included. With that being said, if I was to join a dream culture team, it will be once based on people who are not only tolerant, but open. What I need from the team is the strength to honesty, even though there are some honesty I have a hard time accepting, at least then I know where to improve. But lack of honesty will end up in fear. Fear comes from not understanding someone and what makes them as a human. When you do not understand them, you become afraid, and when you become afraid, you become repressive. You cannot have honesty without inclusion and you cannot have inclusion without honesty. Two important factors in making a team a good team.
