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For Your Life June 21, 2024

Old National’s Ray Bronski Shares What Pride Means to Him

Pride Month, celebrated throughout the month of June, is an annual celebration of the many contributions made by the LGBTQ+ community to history and cultures worldwide.

Pride celebrations in the U.S. trace their roots to the Stonewall Riots of June 1969. In June 2000, President Bill Clinton officially designated June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, in recognition of the Stonewall Riots and gay activism throughout the years. A more-inclusive name was chosen in 2009 by President Barack Obama: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month.

As we celebrate Pride Month here at Old National, we encouraged team members to share their stories and what Pride Month means to them.

Ray Bronski
Banking Center Manager – Wilmington, Illinois

What does Pride Month mean to you?
Pride Month is important to me because it brings awareness to the LGBTQ+ community. I believe it is important for the younger generations to know that they have a community and a support system, and that they are not alone.

How do you celebrate Pride Month?
I celebrate Pride Month by attending events that celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. I also support LGBTQ+ owned businesses, but I believe that it is also important to not limit celebrating pride to a single month and continue to celebrate all year long.

Can you share a personal story or related experience to being LGBTQ+ or an ally that has impacted you?
The story I want to share happened eight years ago. As a gay man, I am always a little worried when I start working with a new group of people because I worry about how I will be accepted. I have had good and bad experiences throughout my career. When I was younger, I was afraid to be judged so I kept my true identity to myself, but as I got older, I couldn't spend the energy trying to hide it because it was draining, and I couldn't give my all to what I was doing.

I had started working at a new location that was far away from Chicago where I felt safe and accepted. When I got there, I was nervous, but was immediately accepted for who I was. The fact that it didn't matter to people that I was a gay man made my life so much easier. I was able to really breathe and focus on being successful. I was so welcomed there that my team threw my husband and I a surprise wedding shower, and even made sure to include our daughters. Two of the employees even flew to Mexico to come to our wedding!

I can't stress enough how important it is to show support and be an ally. Not everyone is as lucky as I have been, and I acknowledge that. That is why it's important to show support for everyone. I want to make sure others feel just as accepted as I was so they can be their authentic selves.

How do you support the LGBTQ+ community within and outside of the workplace?
The biggest thing for me is to live authentically in and out of the workplace. By being myself, I hope to inspire others that may be struggling with their identity and give them support and let them know that it is alright to live their truth. I am also a member of the Pride Impact Network here at ONB and support other local organizations like the Joliet Pride Network.

Why is it important for organizations to have a commitment to Inclusion?
It is important for organizations to commit to inclusion so that all employees feel safe and that they belong. People that feel safe and included in the workplace, being their authentic selves, can focus more of their energy on their job and can avoid spending energy on how people will perceive them.

What is one message you would like to share with our team members during Pride Month?
My message would be to always make sure that everyone feels safe and supported. You never know what someone is struggling with outside of the workplace and it is important to make sure that they feel safe. That can make a huge difference in someone's life. Show your support for the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups, because you never know who needs it, it could save someone's life.

Is there anything else you would like us to add?
There is a lot of hate in the world, so I encourage everyone to be kind to one another. Be supportive of your friends and coworkers and stand up for what is right. There are a lot of people that want to take away rights from the LGBTQ+ community, so if you are not a member of the community, be an ally and stand up for what is right. The LGBTQ+ community appreciates the support.

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