Employee Spotlight – Pride Edition: Jonathan Horowitz

Today, we’re thrilled to share a Pride Month Spotlight on Jonathan Horowitz, FMP’s newest Managing Consultant. In this spotlight, Jonathan shares insights on his coming out story and how it has impacted his life. The topic of FMP’s 2024 Pride Panel was coming out, so we’re excited to continue that discussion with Jonathan here.

Can you share any experiences or anecdotes about coming out – either personally or in a professional setting?

I came out in the summer between my junior and senior years of college after doing a lot of soul-searching over the prior years. I decided that it was time to stop hiding and embrace who I really was, so I mentally prepared myself to be able to handle any potential fallout that could come from sharing my true self with those close to me. Given the environment in which I lived, I suspected that it wouldn’t be easy, and unfortunately, I was right. Nearly 30 years later, however, those challenges that I faced are in the rearview mirror; I’ve helped educate people who were afraid, and the relationships that broke have since mended.

What specific challenges or concerns did you have in coming out?

Coming out was a bit of a challenging process given the conservative environment in which I lived. My immediate family was not supportive, and thus I focused my efforts on building a support system made of chosen family that included friends and work peers. It was tough knowing that I couldn’t go back “home,” and that’s when I decided to create my own “home,” which was not defined as where I spent my youth, but more of a feeling of where I felt safe and accepted for who I was, regardless of the geography. Chicago has been the longest-lasting home I’ve had due to the incredible network of friends I’ve been fortunate to create.

What are the benefits for you in coming out?

Truth. Authenticity. Strength. While the circumstances of my story are less than desirable, it gave me the experience to “find” myself. I proved to myself that, even in the face of unfortunate events, I could still survive and come out ahead. I learned who I wanted to keep in my life and invest time in and where I wanted to focus my energy. I had to break my preconceived notion of what a “family” was and ended up with the best-chosen family I could ever have. I proved to myself that, even when faced with unfortunate circumstances, I could figure it out and make it work. When life hands you lemons, make a lemon drop martini.

How can allies create a supportive environment at work for their LGBTQIA colleagues who come out? 

Treat them with the same respect that you would people that don’t feel the need to come out. Be interested in their lives just like you would if they came out or not. Being gay is just one facet of who I am, so it’s not the only thing I bring to the table. Sure, we all have different journeys to share about how we got to now, but at the end of the day, we’re all human. We all have people we love. We all have things we enjoy doing inside the workspace and out. Take interest in whatever those areas are, and if one happens to be supporting an LGBTQIA-focused organization – GREAT! – ask about it. Above all else, just be authentic and curious about the person as a whole and not just about who they happen to love.

What advice would you give to LGBTQIA employees who are apprehensive about coming out at work? 

While the choice to come out is a very personal decision and everyone does it on their own terms, consider how you feel now. If it’s a bad feeling, like you’re hiding something, then take some time to talk to someone you trust about it. Don’t underestimate the level of compassion that people have – you’ll be surprised! Contrary to what we may see on the news or social media, there are a lot more good people in the world than bad. 

Lauren Small joined FMP Consulting as an HR Generalist in March 2023. She earned an M.A. in Organizational Management from George Washington University and a B.S. in Psychology from The University of Maryland. Lauren has several years of experience in recruiting, grant administration, and marketing. At FMP, Lauren focuses on recruiting and onboarding for our HR team.