Celebrating Queerwisers: Looking Back and Moving Forward

In celebration of Global Pride Months at Wise, we are proud to introduce “Celebrating Queerwisers”, a series that highlights the incredible stories from our LGBTQ+ community across our global offices. Join us in embracing diversity and inclusion as we share their experiences, both professionally and personally.

What does Pride mean to you?

Doron Solomon, London

To me, pride means being able to bring your whole self to work every day. I first came out in University and by the time I graduated I was completely out to all of my friends and family. However, on entering the workforce I felt I needed to keep being gay a secret for the sake of my career. I believed that if work colleagues and management knew I was gay that at best, it would limit career progression, and at worst, could lead to loss of employment. This forced me to be very cautious at work when talking about my personal life. I dreaded facing casual questions like “What did you do this weekend?” for fear that I would give away too much information. What I came to realise later on is that being closeted at work didn’t protect my career – if anything, it hurt it. Others will have sensed my lack of true authenticity and this likely negatively impacted my work relationships. Today, being able to bring my whole self to work means Wise gets the most out of me and I get the most out of being a Wiser.

Alix Greer, Austin

I think Pride can be seen as a multifaceted event where we are seeking community and outward visibility that we can feel safe in our homes, bodies, and on Earth. Some may equate it down to a month, week, or a party but it started as a Riot to be included as part of humanity at the same level as everyone else. Pride to me is about finding a home and safety net for others individuals that are just trying to survive.

MH, APAC

To me, Pride is about being comfortable in my own skin. Like right now after my gender affirming surgery, I know I belong in here, and this is my home. It feels good knowing that I could take off my shirt for a swim anytime that I want. But really, Pride is about being proud of who you are and making space for others to be that as well.

Why is Pride month significant for the LGBTQ+ community, and why do you believe it’s important to actively celebrate and show our support?

Alix Greer, Austin

Showing support is the bare minimum when we are talking about any marginalized group and in reality our communities would be stronger with better inclusivity at all levels. The month is significant as a moment to gather, share and be open in our communities without feeling danger and yet, what happens is support is shown with rainbows during one month of product placement, and then no formal changes in DEI or community practices that advocate change.

MH, APAC

When I was growing up, I always felt like the only one. Alone. I didn’t know anyone else like myself and you know, being alone can be unpleasant. So Pride allows people like myself to express ourselves without being judged, and now I know that I am not alone. I finally have a community that accepts my true self and encourage me to be the best version of myself every day. Having continuous support in this life is just the best thing a human being can experience.

Doron Solomon, London

Pride month is a fabulous opportunity to both celebrate our culture and remind ourselves that the journey to complete acceptance and equality is far from over. From its origins as a march to protest unfair treatment of LGBTQ+ people, fighting for justice and equality has always been at the centre of Pride. Living in a relatively progressive country such as the UK, it could be easy to believe that the hard work is behind us, but this is far from the truth. Homophobic and transphobic attacks are on the rise both globally and in the UK. Anti-LGBTQ+ laws are being introduced in many parts of the world, even in places where progress had previously been made. Homosexuality is still criminal in one out of three countries and in many other countries, the LGBTQ+ community live in constant fear of ostracisation and violence, simply for being who they are. It is vital that we continue to show our support to LGBTQ+ communities around the world so that they know they are not alone and to give them hope that things will get better.

What achievements are you proud of from the LGBTQ+ community and what are we still fighting for?

MH, APAC

I’m a proud member of our community who fights endlessly for our causes, because not everyone is capable of such bravery. From where I come from, our trans sisters, while being the most vulnerable, are the loudest and the most courageous. I am forever thankful for the path they have set here. At the moment, our laws are not great at protecting us against discrimination and hate crime, so locally, that’s what we are fighting for. We still have a long way to go but I believe it will get better.

Doron Solomon, London

The LGBTQ+ community has made amazing progress since I first came out over 25 years ago. Back then, very few LGBTQ+ people were out at work, most employers didn’t have DE&I initiatives and the LGBTQ+ community was generally viewed in a negative light. Since then, anti-discrimination laws have been passed in the UK and today, most employers actively support LGBTQ+ employees. The LGBTQ+ community is generally seen in a more positive light, and the vast majority of people have LGBTQ+ friends and/or family members. Back then, LGBTQ+ characters in mainstream media were generally the subject of ridicule, whereas today many LGBTQ+ stories are told through film and television. However, to me our proudest achievement is the equalisation of marriage. Back in 2005, my home country of Canada was only the fourth country in the world, and the first outside Europe, to equalise marriage. Since then more than 30 jurisdictions have done so, enabling millions of LGBTQ+ people to enjoy the freedoms and benefits of marriage. Marriage equality validates these relationships, not only in the eyes of the law, but in the eyes of the general public. Unfortunately, my marriage is not recognised everywhere in the world and more work is needed to spread marriage equality globally. As an LGBTQ+ parent, there are many countries to which we cannot travel as a family, for fear of what may happen in a country where our marriage, and the legal guardianship of our children, is simply disregarded. I can only hope that one day we will live in a world of equality without borders.

Alix Greer, Austin

An achievement globally is that marriage is being accepted in places to allow for better safety for families, however, as long as our community is used as propaganda without change we will struggle with an uphill battle of understanding and camaraderie within the places we hold our lives.