Vaughan James
Observer
St. Pete Pride Parade
I feel like I've made friends, but I will add a more personal thing. I will self disclose a little bit. I identify as gay, and I also identify as a scientist. This was my first pride event ever, and so it really was quite something for me. I started in the life sciences, switched over into the social sciences, but I did all of that without any particular ... How to put it? Mentors that were like me. I have never really seen very much of: We are scientists, and we support the LGBTQ community in such a direct way. And so that really meant something for me to see now and especially as an adult and someone who is working their way up the academic ladder. As I saw all of it, it really struck me with, okay, this is important. This is a place where we should be as scientists. This is a community that we should talk to as scientists. And so it meant a lot to see you all doing that.