Organon's Kirke Weaver on 'What is an LGBTQ+ ally?'

Organon's Kirke Weaver (Pride ERG Executive Sponsor and General Counsel & Corporate Secretary), writes for myGwork about his personal journey of allyship, and what it means to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community.

What is an ally?

Ten years ago, my answer to this question would have been drastically different than it is today. Back then, I might have said being an ally either means doing no harm, being a resource, or being supportive. And while those concepts are important today, I don’t believe that these concepts are enough on their own to be a true ally. As I have continued on my learning journey, I have come to believe that proactively fostering a culture that appreciates everyone for who they are and embraces their unique perspectives and experiences, is at the heart of being a true ally. Being an ally means that you’re not just accepting a person, you’re embracing them for who they are, their background, their experience, and also standing up for them if there’s an issue of discrimination.

Just over three years ago, I joined newly formed company named Organon, a women’s health company dedicated to creating a better and healthier every day for every woman. I had the distinct opportunity to not just join a company, but also to help co-create the very foundation of our culture – our values. One of the values that truly spoke to me at the time and continues to speak to me is our value of “We all belong.” This value is not about tolerating or merely respecting one another. Instead, it aims to go deeper – to create a true sense of belonging. For me, I came to realize it means creating an environment where people feel accepted for who they are and empowered to proactively support one another - ensuring everyone feels they are an important and valued part of the group. Having that shared value helps us have better conversations. If someone is worried about raising an issue or saying the wrong thing, we can ask the question, “Is this making everyone feel like they belong? Does this further one of our core values?" Using that belonging terminology can help open up a lot of doors because it’s a shared value we have as a part of the company.

That sense of belonging is at the core of what it means to me to be an LGBTQ+ ally. But it does not just happen overnight. Moving from sitting on the sidelines and causing no harm, to taking proactive steps to build that environment takes work. It starts with being vulnerable and constantly learning about others, their perspectives, and challenges for both individuals and the larger LGBTQ+ community. As you learn, you might make mistakes, and that’s ok as long as you approach it with the right attitude of acknowledging that you are learning, and that your actions, even though you intend them well, might affect others in a much different way. And remember it is a journey, not a sprint. All too often, people take “being proactive” to mean immediately taking actions, speaking out, and more. Yet, the first, and often overlooked step, is to ensure you are listening. Listen to learn, listen to engage others in sharing their stories, listen to show you value what they say and the experiences they share.

As an ally, be visible in your learning journey by attending events that spotlight LGBTQ+ issues and by advocating for supportive policies and practices. Being a proactive ally sets an example to everyone to show the LGBTQ+ community is valued and is an important part of building a broader culture of belonging. 

Most importantly, being an ally means respecting boundaries and what individuals are comfortable sharing about their own personal journeys. It is not about you. It is about supporting others and creating an environment where others feel valued. Not everyone is ready to share. Not everyone wants to share deeply personal issues in the workplace. And that needs to be respected. An ally recognizes this fact and creates a culture where this is valued. Belonging is not about sharing everything, but rather feeling included regardless of what people want to share about their experiences. 

For me, being an LBGTQ+ ally is personal. Since I’ve joined Organon, I have prioritized living our “We all belong” value through actions big and small. Through my role as the executive sponsor for the Organon Pride Network, I have shared my experiences being an ally both at work and in my personal life. I’ve also listened and learned as I’ve talked to many people from across the globe. I proactively share and repeatedly encourage my team and the broader organization to participate in Pride events and engage in courageous conversations. All of these steps, no matter how small, contribute to creating an environment of belonging, where members of the LGBTQ+ community feel they are valued and seen.