Daniel Biato on Coming Out: “I Was Very Scared of Being Honest With the People I Studied and Worked With”
Interviews
In honor of National Coming Out Day, Daniel Biato, Unilever Management Trainee, shares his story. He offers a personal insight into his coming out story, giving encouraging advice to closeted people and discussing how Unilever has taken extra steps to make LGBTQ+ people feel safe and included.
Hi Daniel, thanks for chatting with us! Can you tell us about your experience coming out?
Back in Brazil, I did not have good experiences related to coming out. Outside of my small and close friends’ comfort zone, it was hostile territory. In the beginning, I was very scared of being honest with the people I studied and worked with. However, the most difficult part was managing my parents’ emotions and expectations around the subject.
It was not difficult to tell them that I was gay - but what came next was. My father was raised in a very religious atmosphere and my mother met him in a church camp when the hope provided by religion really helped her. They raised their children following the same terms so when the reality of my sexuality came to surface that was a lot for them to handle. What followed was an extremely difficult period in which I had to perform the role of the educator inside my house from a young age.
I felt constantly judged, discriminated against, generalized, and pigeonholed. I was very lonely and scared. Happily, we ended up in therapy treatment as a family, and that changed their minds, opened their eyes, and made them change their behavior.
Do you feel that by coming out you can inspire others to come out too?
Absolutely! You provide a live example of how coming out can end up in a healthy and successful life.
Do you think there are enough LGBTQ+ people at C-level in the workplace?
No, not at all. I hope I can see more and more LGBTQ+ people not only at C-level but as speakers in top events and channels and everywhere in the big media.
How does Unilever support and empower its LGBTQ+ employees?
Unilever makes space for LGBTQ+ employees to speak up and be themselves without fear of discrimination consequences. It also supports the LGBTQ+ community by being vocal when something wrong happens or is said inside company doors.
There is a clear and direct condemnation of homophobic behavior or speech, coming all the way up from the CEO to the grounds. Do not get me wrong: nothing is perfect! But we are on the right path.
It has been proven that being out at work increases productivity. What other advantages do you see in coming out in the workplace?
Increase in mental health, better work-life balance, diminished stress levels.
In your opinion, how can an organization and its clients benefit from a diverse workforce?
By having a diverse workforce, you allow your organization to mirror society and better serve your customers. Without a diverse workforce, you are trapped in a bubble where all sorts of biases are reinforced and overlooked.
More and more organizations want their employees to bring their whole selves to work. Would you consider working for an organization that does not?
No, not. How could I sell my time to an organization that does not want me to bring my whole self to work? I do not see how that would work. I am one person and one only. If I am not bringing my whole self to work, who am I bringing to work?
How do you think allies can support their colleagues coming out?
Allies can help colleagues come out by making open and inclusive questions instead of closed and assumptive questions. Instead of asking, ‘do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend?’ you may ask, ‘do you have a partner?’.
Choosing your words can be so simple and so powerful.
