>> I AM GAY.
I AM MY AUTHENTIC SELF.
>> I AM A QUEER WOMAN.
>> I AM A TRANSGENDER WOMAN.
>> I AM A LESBIAN.
>> I AM GAY,
AND I'M MY AUTHENTIC SELF.
>> I'M A PARENT
OF A TRANSGENDER SON,
AND I'M VERY PROUD.
[ MUSIC ]
>> I KNEW I WANTED
TO BE IN SCIENCE
EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID.
I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS
REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE
MY MOST AUTHENTIC SELF,
ESPECIALLY KNOWING
THAT THIS WAS MY DREAM.
QUEER PEOPLE CAN DREAM BIG.
>> EXPLORATION NEEDS
TO BE FOR EVERYBODY.
EVERY PERSON, EVERY KID,
IF THEY CAN SEE THEMSELVES
IN THE ASTRONAUTS
THAT WE SEND OUT IN SPACE,
BUT ALSO IN THE TEAMS
THAT MAKES THAT POSSIBLE,
THEN WE'RE DOING OUR JOB.
WE'RE DOING INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT
AND COMPLICATED THINGS.
WE WANT PEOPLE
THAT LOOK AT THINGS
FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE,
THAT CAN BRING US, YOU KNOW,
NEW WAYS OF SOLVING PROBLEMS,
AND DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE TEAMS
DO THAT.
>> IF SOMEONE IS IN THE CLOSET,
AND THEY SEE PEOPLE LIKE ME
DOING OUR JOBS,
BEING EFFECTIVE AT OUR JOBS,
I THINK THAT IS
THE BIGGEST ENCOURAGEMENT
THAT I CAN GIVE THEM IS
TO SHOW I CAN BE MY TRUE SELF,
AND I CAN DO MY JOB.
THEY ACCEPT ME 100%.
WE'RE ALL TOGETHER
WORKING ON THIS.
>> WHO I AM IS ENOUGH,
AND WHEN YOU RESONATE THAT
KIND OF PRIDE WITHIN YOURSELF,
AND YOU EXUDE THE LOVE
THAT YOU HAVE FOR YOURSELF,
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT,
YOU'VE GOT A TRIBE OF PEOPLE
WHO ARE JUST MOTIVATING
AND UPLIFTING ONE ANOTHER.
THAT COMES FROM BEING
YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF.
THERE'S SOMEONE IN THE WORLD
STRUGGLING LIKE YOU
WHO NEEDS TO SEE
SOMEONE LIKE YOU
TO KEEP GOING.
THERE'S SOMEONE WHO NEEDS
AN EXAMPLE,
AND YOU CAN BE THAT.
>> I AM NONBINARY.
I AM GAY.
I USE THEY/THEM.
THERE WAS ONE INSTANCE
WHERE I WAS PARTICIPATING
IN A CANDIDATE LUNCH,
AND THEY ACTUALLY ALSO USE
THEY/THEM PRONOUNS,
AND IT JUST FELT REALLY NICE
TO SEE SOMEONE ELSE IN THE ROOM
USING THOSE PRONOUNS,
AND IT-- I MADE SURE
TO INTRODUCE MYSELF
WITH MY PRONOUNS
SO THAT THEY COULD KNOW
YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE HERE.
THERE'S SOMEONE HERE
WHO UNDERSTANDS YOU
AND-AND REALLY JUST WANTS
THE BEST FOR YOU.
>> IT REQUIRES SOME BRAVERY,
BUT TAKE THE LEAP.
JUST BE HONEST. BE YOURSELF.
AND IF YOU ARE YOURSELF,
AND THEY ACCEPT YOU,
THEN YOU'VE FOUND WHAT YOU NEED.
I'VE LEARNED HOW TO
BE CONFIDENT IN MYSELF,
AND I'VE ALSO SORT OF
ESTABLISHED MYSELF HERE.
PEOPLE KNOW ME.
I GET TO WORK WITH SMART
AND CAPABLE PEOPLE,
AND OUR JOB IS TO EXPLORE
OUTER SPACE
AND TO UNCOVER THE MYSTERIES
OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM,
UH, AS A DAILY MATTER.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO EACH DAY.
>> I FEEL HOPEFUL FOR THE FUTURE
BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATION
THAT'S OUT THERE
AND EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS
THAT NASA HAS ESTABLISHED.
I AM MY TRUE SELF,
IN LOVE WITH MY WIFE,
AND IF WE CAN BE OURSELVES,
OUR MISSION HERE AT NASA
BECOMES MORE EFFECTIVE.
>> WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT,
AND WE SHOULD ALL
ACCEPT EACH OTHER
FOR OUR DIFFERENCES,
'CAUSE THAT'S WHAT
MAKES US SPECIAL.
>> IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT
THAT WE CAN SHOW
THAT VISIBILITY IS SAFE, UM,
AND THAT YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY
BE A PART OF THE TEAM
AND LOVED AND VALUED
FOR WHO YOU ARE.
>> IT'S NEVER TOO LATE
TO BE YOURSELF.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE
TO FIND YOUR HAPPINESS.
>> NO MATTER WHAT YOUR IDENTITY
IS IN THE COMMUNITY,
THAT THERE'S GONNA BE
A PLACE FOR YOU,
UM, AND THERE'S GONNA BE
A PLACE FOR YOU TO NOT ONLY
JUST BE HERE, BUT TO SUCCEED
AND TO THRIVE.
I AM A QUEER WOMAN,
AND I AM NASA.
>> I AM NASA.
[ MUSIC ]