Williams is a connector, establishing partnerships with organizations like the Trevor Project and GLAAD and introducing those groups to internal business resource groups seeking support. He’s also been key to the production of PSAs on an array of social issues over the last year including voting rights and vaccine information. Williams wants to see employers, insurance companies and society as a whole embrace the idea of a chosen family. For many marginalized individuals, those closest to them aren’t the ones bound by blood ties and it’s important to validate those connections. “For many, family isn’t a biological connection—it’s about a decision to care for and love another person as a family member,” he says. “Being able to name and define what your family is for the purpose of healthcare, insurance and other benefits would be transformative for so many communities.”
What is the state of LGBTQ+ representation in media? The state of media representation for LGBTQ+ is certainly better than it ever has been before. However, we must remember there is no “finish line” when it comes to depicting the complexity and nuances of a community. I’d like to see content creators push to show us a broad range of experiences that span race, socio-economic, geography, gender identity, etc.
How do benefits need to improve to become inclusive of all families and individuals? First, we have to expand our definition of “family.” For many, family isn’t about a biological connection — it’s about a decision to care for and love another person as a family member. Being able to name and define what your family is for the purpose of healthcare, insurance and other benefits would be transformative for so many communities.
How does your company encourage employees to bring their true selves to work? There are many ways we tell people to bring their true selves to work, however, providing employees with the structural support and programs is the difference between words and real meaning. Having affinity groups that have a voice in how the company culture is shaped is a good start. Still, it is just as important to have a process for accountability so that people are not only expected to be inclusive but evaluated on how they nurture the diversity of the company’s culture. That’s the key to real and actionable inclusion.
Advice for allies on how to show up for their LGBTQ+ colleagues? It’s important for allies to see themselves as activists and not passive supporters of the people and issues they say they care about. The best ally is someone who says, “Don’t worry, I got this one,” and they use their time, resources, and power to advocate for change so that others don’t have to.
Favorite media milestone moment in LGBTQ+ history? There are so many. I love when we celebrate unsung heroes who have been forgotten or left out of our telling of history. People like James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Bayard Rustin, Harvey Milk and so many others are being remembered and canonized as important historical figures of this country and the world. That represents a huge shift from the “important” people I was taught about in school and gives me hope that more of the real history will be told as we expand the types of people who get to tell those stories.
