LGBTQ+ Inclusion: The Power of Investing in One Another

Timothy Jayaraj is a senior UX technical writer and co-lead for the Oracle Pride Employee Network (OPEN) in India. In honor of Pride Month, he’s reflecting on his personal path to self-acceptance and sharing insight into how we can create a more inclusive world by building authentic relationships and investing in the people around us.

Breaking the mold

Timothy’s conservative upbringing influenced his identity from a young age. “I was raised in a Christian community that never left much room for thought beyond its own boundaries,” he recalls. “It was only when I went to university that new horizons surfaced. I was deeply religious myself but couldn’t get over the feelings I had for people, hoping against hope that one day the feelings would go away, because I was raised to believe that hell is real, and was terrified of it.”

Inclusive teachers and classmates helped Timothy edge closer to his authentic self. “They allowed me to color outside the lines of my belief system from time to time, until I realized that I was erasing boundaries bit by bit to draw a whole new world for myself,” he shares. “This wasn’t an easy process mentally or emotionally, and self-acceptance took time.”

What diversity and inclusion really means

Along this journey, Timothy learned two things; to be protective of himself and to win allies whenever possible. “That’s what drives my advocacy for diversity and inclusion—a combination of self-preservation and realistic expectations about other people.”

When it comes to driving diversity and inclusion at enterprise-level, Timothy shrewdly notes the importance of leadership taking a firm stance. “Diversity happens in board rooms, in that a company can legislate quotas if it wants to, and can meet those quotas for diversity,” he observes. “But while diversity can be check-boxed into existence top-down, inclusion is an everyday, interpersonal effort that needs to be fostered and sustained by each and every person at the workplace.”

The importance of creating community

In a world that has yet to fully accept all ways of life, Timothy emphasizes the need for cultivating strong connections. “In the LGBTQIA+ world, a lot of us thrive in what we call ‘chosen families’ rather than the ones we grew up in,” he shares. “Pride events reinforce this sense of community which is so important because it reminds us of what we’re capable of when we don’t have to hide fundamental aspects of ourselves.”

At work, Timothy encourages us to be proactive in our efforts to forge authentic bonds. “We need to reach out, network, and find people like ourselves around whom we feel safe,” he instructs. “Also, we need to encourage people when we have the opportunity. Those of us who are organization leaders should try to understand both the worries and potential of the people we’re accountable for so that we can help them grow. We need to be allies to each other. And something that’s of special value to me is being plugged into the world around me, and being mindful of history, so that I don’t get lost in my own head.”

Why we need to invest in each other

While making allies is a cornerstone of Timothy’s philosophy, he notes that it’s not always easy to put yourself out there—but it is worth it. “I’m going to serve a bit of cheese here in saying that hope is both a fragile but heavy feeling for people to harbor by themselves. It really is,” he insists. “Especially when you’re not just queer but also one, or two, or three more other things that has historically set people like yourself back. And in the course of making progress, we sometimes learn that not everyone has the best intentions, and it can be distressing when people in power don’t take allyship seriously, or when they’re indifferent to it. It can lead people to undervalue themselves.”

This is why Timothy is so appreciative of the culture at Oracle. We proudly signed the National Business Statement Opposing Anti-LGBTQ State Legislation, while each year we continue to earn 100% on the HRC Equality Index.

“I’m immensely glad for the opportunity to work with and learn from supportive leaders in my organization, and to be encouraged by them—not just with nice words, but with support in professional growth and career advancement. I also thoroughly enjoy being a part of OPEN and working with my co-leads to enact change. This collective investment in each other’s success is what keeps us moving forward.”

Creating the future, one step at a time

In the three years since Timothy joined Oracle India, he’s been blown away by the progress of Oracle’s diversity and inclusion efforts. It gives him hope for the future. “As someone who joined as a campus hire, before OPEN began here, and having seen how far Oracle India has come, I like to think that even a well-established company or workplace that’s rather set in its ways can inch forward in the right direction, with enough motivation.”

While some people put their success in life down solely to their own talents, Timothy embraces a truly inclusive perspective. “What worked for me was effort, regular stock-taking, good mentoring, and a dash of courage,” he lists. “But I’d like to assert that success is contingent on a significant number of variables outside a person’s control, and that’s a core realization that needs to drive diversity and inclusion efforts.”

He leaves us with one final piece of food for thought.  “Sometimes change tests our patience, but it’s important to cherish what we’ve achieved—especially when history has taught us that giant leaps are realized in small steps.”

Do you want to join an inclusive company that cherishes what makes you unique? We’re proud to support and uplift the LGBTQ+ community at work and beyond. Explore our career opportunities and create the future with us.