Page 21 - BEQ Pride Magazine Iss 21 Winter 2021 v01012022

chuckle. “It didn’t really hit me full on until I met less excited than during a presidential election year.
my husband when I was 22. When I met my hus- But he has an idea for how to strategize.
band, I felt everything that my straight friends “Whatever Stacey Abrams does, let’s tap into
talked about when they were talking about girls. I that and use it to get the whole country to come out
never connected with the feeling they were talking and vote in the midterms,” he says.
about before, but I finally understood it when I met
Josh.”
Bly met Josh Sacavage through MySpace, one of
the first online platforms that allowed you to search Bly is actively working on his leadership skills,
by sexual preference and location. something he wishes he had focused on in his 20s.
“I was in New York but I wanted to meet some- “I wish I had studied leadership and done more
body from back home,” he said. “Josh is also from to make myself a better leader through my 20s,”
a small town in Pennsylvania so we connected on he said. “I was really good on the business side of
MySpace and then we met in person and I was like, things like winning clients, financial structures and
okay, I’m gay.” all the technicalities of business, but the human
He came out to his parents and other folks back part, the leadership part – that was a weakness.”
home and focused on his relationship and building When Bly identifies a weakness in himself, he
his business. But in realizing and accepting his own works to strengthen it through multiple resources.
identity, Bly started thinking back to his youth and To hone his leadership skills, he joined mentorship
seeing how different his experience could have groups, read books, listened to other leaders whose
been. styles he likes and began developing his own lead-
“I notice that a lot of LGBTQ youth end up not ership style.
being as successful as their non-LGBTQ counter- “I think one of the biggest problems people have
parts, especially in areas like where I grew up,” he when studying how to start a business or how to
says. “I think the main issue is lack of resources. be a leader is thinking there are a bunch of boxes
So many LGBTQ youths end up getting kicked out you can check off, but it’s not one size fits all,” he
[of their homes]. It’s happening less, but it’s still says. “A lot about business is the same, but there are
happening.” also a lot of differences. It’s important for you to be
Bly began volunteering with GLSEN, which focuses different, to bring your own personality and values
on supporting LGBTQ youth through school programs and style to the table.”
to end discrimination and promote inclusion. In 2019, Bly attended the GLSEN Respect Awards
“GLSEN is really good at grassroots efforts and where Tim Cook was honored with the Champion
providing resources to people who want to build Award. It was a pivotal moment.
safe spaces for young people. I feel like putting my “He got up and talked about why he felt it was
energy into providing those resources will create a important for him to speak out about being LGBTQ
better path for future generations,” he says. in the position that he was in,” Bly recalls. “That
Bly is also a member of the Eastern Caucus Vic- resonated with me. I feel like we’re doing a lot to
tory Board for Victory Fund where he helps identify be an inclusive company every day, but I thought,
and support LGBTQ candidates for elected office. as the CEO, I should be talking more, I should be
He is not interested in running for office himself, at putting myself out there more.”
least not currently, but Bly sees this as another way And here he is – a successful, out CEO working
to build a better future for LGBTQ folks. to make it easier for today’s LGBTQ youth to find
“I really like finding candidates that actually resources and role models.
know the community they’re running in, that have “I think, nationwide, things are better for LGBTQ
a platform that’s good for LGBTQ people, and doing youth,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean you stop
what I can to support them,” he says. because the second you stop, it goes backward. I’m
He is gearing up for the 2022 midterm elections not out there screaming from the rooftops – that’s
when the party in power typically loses ground. Bly not my style – but I want to do what I can with what
expects it to be a battle, in part because people are I have to keep us moving forward.” 

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