What’s the great thing about people? Well, we’re all different, we are all unique, we all have our own story to tell. Our life experiences are what makes us diverse. So, we’re opening up.
Inclusion and diversity is the belief that every single individual matters. And that’s why by opening up and sharing our stories, we can celebrate difference and uniqueness that bit more.
Every February in the UK is LGBT+ History Month. At Colt, we reached out to our employees and offered them the chance to open up and highlight an LGBT+ person in history and what they’ve done.
Today we spoke to Kunal Garg, an Incident Management Manager, based in Gurgaon, India.
Q: Kunal, thank you for taking the time to open up to us. Can you sum up what LGBT+ History Month is?
A: It’s a month long observation done annually in view of LGBT+ history. It’s primarily done by Hungary (in October), Ireland (May), US (Oct), UK (Feb), Canada (Oct) and Australia (Oct). It was started by Rodney Wilson a teacher at University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL), also known as the founder of LGBT+ History Month. He started advocacy for civil rights for LGBT+ Americans.
Q: Why is it important to the LGBT+ community?
A: This month is dedicated to teaching people about LGBT+ history. It was the beginning to advocacy of LGBT+ civil rights.
Q: What does LGBT+ History Month mean to you?
A: For me, it helps me to stand up for all those who are fellow humans.
Q: Do you think we need to do more to talk about LGBT+ history and why?
A: Yes we need to talk about this more often, it encourages tolerance through understanding.
Q: Who is your role model in LGBT+ history and why?
A: Karan Johar, who is an Indian film actor, director and producer, who never officially came out as gay. However, he hinted about his sexual orientation in his autobiography, An Unsuitable Boy in 2017. “Everybody knows what my sexual orientation is,” he wrote. “I don’t need to scream it out. If I need to spell it out, I won’t, only because I live in a country where I could possibly be jailed for saying this. Which is why I, Karan Johar, will not say the three words that possibly everybody knows about me.”
Q: Do you have a specific quotation that resonates with you in your life?
A: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney.
Q: If you could encourage people to do one thing this LGBT+ History Month, what would it be?
A: Just be human. Live and let live.
For more information about inclusion and diversity at Colt, have a look at our I&D page.
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