Interview
My Coming Out Story 🏳️🌈 | Facebook CMO Alex Schultz
- The speaker came out twice: first during university upon realizing love was distinct from sexual attraction, and later professionally at Facebook after overcoming fear of career repercussions.
- At eBay, the speaker remained in the closet after being advised that being open was unsafe due to CEO Meg Whitman's campaign banning gay marriage in California.
- Being in the closet at eBay caused significant psychological distress, including irrational fears of encountering colleagues in LGBTQ+ spaces like San Francisco's Castro district.
- The speaker joined Facebook as a startup despite parental concerns regarding job stability compared to eBay.
- A pivotal moment for coming out at work occurred when the speaker saw support for LGBTQ+ rights from senior figures Blake Ross (Director of Product) and Mark Sule, a highly respected engineer.
- Before seeing this support, the speaker deleted a comment supporting a colleague's post on Prop 8 after being accused of attacking Mormons.
- The visible support from senior leadership tipped the speaker from the closet to being openly gay, marking the first professional environment where they felt safe and comfortable doing so.
- Since coming out, the speaker has served as executive sponsor for the "Pride Act" community and helped sponsor product features including rainbow filters, same-sex relationship options, and diverse gender selections.
- The speaker remains nervous about internal treatment despite the safety of the current environment, noting that visible support from key leaders was necessary to overcome initial fears.
- The speaker identifies the transgender community as facing the most significant barriers compared to white, cisgender gay men.
- Despite progress, the speaker notes a continued "gap" in representation, citing a lack of openly gay members on corporate boards and stages at investor conferences.
- In senior executive teams and boards where the speaker serves, they are frequently the only openly gay member, creating a sense of isolation.
- Many LGBTQ+ professionals currently report that they cannot be successful at their jobs while remaining out, a reality the speaker advises them to avoid by changing environments if possible.
- The speaker's parents initially mourned their "image" of the speaker's future (e.g., traditional marriage and children) but eventually became "tremendously supportive."
- The speaker's gender presentation was not traditionally stereotypical, leading to the surprise of friends and family, though rowing teammates had already suspected due to interactions with male coxswains.
- The speaker attributes their career success and current position entirely to the continued support of their parents.