Morgana Bailey: The danger of hiding who you are
مورگانا بیلی: خطر پنهان کردن آنچه هستید
A human resources activist, Morgana Bailey wants to see the diversity of society reflected in the workplace, and employees of all walks of life feel comfortable being open about who they are. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
I prided myself as a nonconformist
U.S. state I live in, Kansas.
weird clothing trends or hairstyles.
of my London semester abroad 16 years ago
if I was perceived as weird or different.
I was in London, 16 years ago,
that actually was somewhat unique,
of who I thought I once was.
instead of socializing.
and leadership activities.
in the crowd anymore.
I was growing up and maturing,
looking for acceptance.
to needing acceptance.
something was different about me
that I began conforming and hiding.
to step forward and speak out.
about what this talk was about,
about my TED Talk.
to this city 16 years later
to finally stop hiding.
for 16 years?
to be defined by them.
about coming out in the past,
but I just want to be known as Morgana,
or "my gay coworker Morgana."
metropolitan areas,
that I have suppressed the truth
of not being accepted.
that a surprisingly large number of people
of their behavior or their appearance
and bisexual employees,
some aspects of themselves
appear at work "too gay."
and inclusion programs,
to be themselves at work
conformity is critical
that so many people just like me
trying to hide themselves,
that my silence
and long-term social repercussions.
life expectancy is shortened
in highly anti-gay communities
magazine this year,
afford to keep silent.
social stigmas are a deadly combination.
in anti-gay communities
violence and suicide.
was simply a personal matter
تنها یک مسئله شخصی است
and out into the community
and not share who I really am
to this exact same environment
برای بیان همجنسگر بودنم وجود ندارد.
there's no reason to share that I was gay,
has social consequences
من دارای پیامدهای اجتماعی است
when I missed an opportunity
in my own home state of Kansas.
Representatives brought up a bill for vote
allowed businesses
to deny gays services.
برای محروم کردن استقاده همجنسگرایان از خدماتشان را میداد.
in the Kansas House of Representatives.
businesses to not serve me.
queer and questioning people?
with them about who I am.
her father my experience?
helped change his vote?
I had done nothing
in human resources,
the development of employees,
that the diversity of society
to advocate for diversity.
has anti-discrimination policies
bisexual and transgender people.
through their global inclusion programs.
of this company, I will finally come out.
of the opportunity,
my London journal and scrapbook
abroad 16 years ago,
from Toni Morrison's book, "Paradise."
inside than outside."
to myself at the bottom:
to get out and explore London,
to start exploring and embracing myself.
until all these years later
I will ever have to overcome
I will be able to change reality outside.
that I have hidden for too long.
I will never hide again,
I can do something to change the data
be more themselves and more fulfilled
and personal lives.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Morgana Bailey - Human resources professionalA human resources activist, Morgana Bailey wants to see the diversity of society reflected in the workplace, and employees of all walks of life feel comfortable being open about who they are.
Why you should listen
“I am in human resources, a profession that works to welcome, connect and encourage the development of employees,” says Morgana Bailey. At State Street, she directs the Global Human Resources data management team, which maintains data records for the company’s approximately 29,000 employees. Morgana collaborates with people across State Street as corporate policies, regulatory requirements and related employee data requirements continually evolve. Her career experiences have confirmed that the only constant is change, and one’s ability — or inability — to adapt can generate profound long-term outcomes.
At TED@StateStreet, Morgana Bailey revealed a part of herself that she had kept supressed for 16 years. She hopes that her openness will inspire others to stop hiding, and be open about who they are in both their personal and professional lives.
Morgana Bailey | Speaker | TED.com