Guided By History continues its series of reflections as Pride month continues. Today, we welcome Tamara Peterson.
Tamara is Senior Counsel for Wells Fargo and works in the Minneapolis offices of the Law Department. She joined the Wells Fargo team in June of 2003, and became active in various diversity initiatives within a few months. (CR)
Pride month seems like a great time to consider both the joy and struggle of being a member of the LGBT community in America in 2009. I must say it is nice to have the President of the United States acknowledge Pride month 
— the fact that this celebration is embraced on a national level just 40 years after Stonewall gives me great hope for the future.
I also am pleased to see the leadership found in many of our Fortune 500 companies, including Wells Fargo, which offer domestic partner benefits to their employees and include sexual orientation and gender identity protections in their non-discrimination policies. I cannot put into words how important it is to not have to worry about whether a partner's picture can be placed upon a desk or whether weekend plans should not be discussed for fear of disclosing this relationship.
It still is hard to comprehend how truly different life must have been for the participants of Stonewall. I am optimistic that our country continues to evolve with respect to how we view one another, and the importance we place on celebrating and embracing our differences rather than hiding or merely tolerating them.
I am particularly proud of the great friendships I have cultivated with people who had not previously known anyone in a same-sex couple relationship, and have found that once people get to know same-sex couples, they realize that ALL couples are alike. LBGT couples enjoy movie nights, hosting friends for dinners, taking on home projects, and spending time with each other and their pets. They share life's joys and frustrations with equal vigor, and deeply cherish family and close friends.
I have every expectation that we will continue to appreciate one another and to proudly live our life together for many years to come. That is plenty of reason in my book to toast Pride month and this year's 40th anniversary of Stonewall with zest!
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