General

Celebrating Pride Month at OPPD

As OPPD celebrates Pride Month, we asked LGBTQIA+ employees and allies to share their thoughts on celebrating Pride, working in a diverse and inclusive environment, and more. Read on for a sampling of their responses.

Danielle Beebe

Digital Media Coordinator, Corporate Marketing & Communications

Why did you decide to join OPPD Pride?

 I joined OPPD’s LGBTQ resource group to serve my LGBTQ and ally coworkers as best I can. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I’ve often been comforted by developing a network of allies or seeing supportive signage in the workplace. Being connected with OPPD Pride helps me provide that same visibility and support to others.

 What would you like people to know about OPPD and/or OPPD Pride?

Getting involved with OPPD Pride provides a great opportunity to learn allyship to a group of people who face hardships on a daily basis.

 Why do you believe it’s important to celebrate Pride Month?

 I’m a 37-year-old lesbian who has been out for two decades. I’ve been fortunate to live through massive social change in the treatment of LGBTQ persons. The wins were emotional and historical to witness, but every step of the journey involved dangerous and terrifying opposition. There is one day a year — for a few hours — that doesn’t feel like that. It’s during a pride parade — walking down the streets of downtown Omaha and only witnessing exuberant celebration of love. It’s seeing the collective weight of oppression lift off the shoulders of an entire community — thousands of our fellow Midwesterners. For a brief moment, we all witness each other and are met only with love and enthusiasm and silliness. It’s pure magic, it’s a display of the best in humanity, and I strongly encourage kind attendance.

 How do you believe an inclusive and diverse work environment positively impacts the quality of services provided to OPPD customer-owners?

Truly diverse and psychologically safe teams don’t have blind spots. Teams with few to no blind spots can work together to continue to provide reliable, affordable and environmentally sensitive energy services. They anticipate and adapt to the wide variety of struggles our community faces.

What advice would you give to your younger self or a young member of the LGBTQIA+ community?

You will be tempted to spend your energy learning how to survive in this world, how to adapt to hateful external forces. This is valuable, but it is not the most important tactic. The most important thing is for you to identify your inner voice and listen to it. Be guided by the magic within you, even if it looks different than anything you’ve ever seen before. The world needs it.

James Macnamara

Programs & Planning Manager, Human Capital

Why did you decide to join OPPD Pride?

I have several family members and friends who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. Being a member of OPPD Pride gives me the opportunity to show my support for them and the broader community.

 What would you like people to know about OPPD and/or OPPD Pride?

Having the opportunity to connect with OPPD Pride has taught me a lot. I think some of the most impactful moments have been when the Employee Resource Group created safe places for individuals to share stories, ask questions, and explore the struggles of feeling safe and/or belonging, both as part of OPPD and outside of work. These stories sadden me, but at the same time make me realize how important the work OPPD Pride is doing to create awareness, understanding, community and tolerance. I feel the work being done by OPPD & OPPD Pride enhances our culture of inclusivity and strengthens us as a sought after employer and an organization of acceptance.

Why do you believe it’s important to celebrate Pride Month?

It’s important to just recognize, acknowledge and celebrate the community as part of the broader community we live in. To acknowledge the struggle of belonging and to celebrate the progress made. To show support for our family members, friends, colleagues, and to enable people to engage and learn. And to see the infectious joy and acceptance of the community and know that it is OK to be just who you want to be.

How do you believe an inclusive and diverse work environment positively impacts the quality of services provided to OPPD customer-owners?

It enables us to take in, consider and integrate the unique perspectives and needs of our community.

 What advice would you give to your younger self or a young member of the LGBTQIA+ community?

Always be curious, seek to understand, resist fear and intolerance, and you have no business being a judge.  

Tony Mitera

Lead Infrastructure Engineer, Infrastructure Engineering

Why did you decide to join OPPD Pride?

To show support, as both an ally yet also as someone who isn’t in a straight relationship. I have the luxury of being comfortable expressing who I am. I believe it is only right to then find ways where I can help others become more comfortable doing so as well.

What would you like people to know about OPPD and/or OPPD Pride?

It is a great group of people, and OPPD Pride focuses not just on how to make OPPD a more inclusive culture for all but, but also spending time and effort to help our local community. It doesn’t matter who you are, but if your heart is in a place to help support (or wants that support!) there is a spot for you within OPPD Pride.

Why do you believe it’s important to celebrate Pride Month?

For a very long time, a whole lot of people have had to downplay who they are in different social settings. As our collective expression of relationships, gender and other aspects of our identity evolves, it can lead to a lot of unease for a variety of reasons. During Pride Month, someone struggling with their own identity may see themselves in someone else who is outwardly celebrating that aspect of themselves. That recognition is incredibly powerful, and I believe it happens across the entire LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

How do you believe an inclusive and diverse work environment positively impacts the quality of services provided to OPPD customer-owners?

It can be very tiring to carefully guard how you talk about yourself or your life, and keep that guard up all the time. By fostering an inclusive environment where people can feel free to talk about themselves it allows for that guard to come down. I believe that in turn allows for people to bring their entire selves to work, and it is far easier to do your best work when you feel like you are in a welcoming environment.

What advice would you give to your younger self or a young member of the LGBTQIA+ community?

You know who you are. Love yourself, and know that you are loved. In the times where you are struggling, know that you are not alone and that there are many who would love to meet your whole self. In the times where you are comfortable and secure, seek out others who are struggling who could use the same kind of support.

Barb Vitek

Manager Business Relationship Management, Project Planning & Performance

Why did you decide to join OPPD Pride?

I have some amazing LGBTQIA+ people in my life and have seen the impact of people being seen and accepted in their community by knowing they have allies supporting them.   I joined OPPD Pride to get to know some new people and to help spread support and awareness. 

What would you like people to know about OPPD and/or OPPD Pride?

The people who are part of OPPD Pride are wonderful. They do a great job of celebrating differences and raising awareness.  However, it’s never too late to join.  The group is always welcoming new members to help them promote respect and inclusion for everyone at OPPD.

Why do you believe it’s important to celebrate Pride Month?

Celebrating Pride Month personally and professionally is important to me for several reasons.  It helps promote an environment where individuals feel accepted and supported to share their true selves, which helps me better understand and appreciate them as a person. In addition, it provides and opportunity to help promote awareness and information on the LBGTQIA+ community.

How do you believe an inclusive and diverse work environment positively impacts the quality of services provided to OPPD customer-owners?

Everyone’s life path provides them a different view of the world resulting in unique perspectives.  These perspectives translate into the workplace by providing a different way to creatively solution for new ideas or resolve issues.  When a company is inclusive and diverse it attracts unique talent and that benefits everyone.

What advice would you give to your younger self or a young member of the LGBTQIA+ community?

Never assume that people know you are an ally. Be public and vocal so people know you accept and love them exactly as they are.