Innovating with Pride: Celebrating LGBTQ+ History Month in Technology
- October 14, 2024
October is LGBTQ+ History Month. It’s a time to reflect on key milestones such as the Stonewall riots, the election of the first out gay political official, the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, the achievements of the first out gay athlete, and Ellen DeGeneres’ groundbreaking coming out on television. These moments have profoundly shaped our society. But have you ever thought about the contributions LGBTQIA+ individuals have made in areas like technology?
Let’s highlight four LGBTQIA+ individuals who have significantly contributed to the technology we use today.
Lynn Conway
Lynn Conway is a groundbreaking chip designer, is credited with advancements in supercomputer technology and microchip design. In the 1960s, Conway worked at IBM on supercomputer design, and later, in the 1970s, on chip design at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center. Despite her achievements, her contributions went unrecognized for years, especially after being fired from IBM for transitioning while employed there. She publicly came out as a trans woman in the early 2000s and has since become a prominent advocate for the trans community.
Tim Cook
Tim Cook, who became Apple’s CEO in 2011, publicly came out as gay in 2014. Although he preferred to keep his personal life private, he felt an "increasing sense of duty" to come out in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. In a Bloomberg Businessweek essay, Cook shared, "[Being gay] has been tough and uncomfortable at times, but it has given me the confidence to be myself, to follow my own path, and to rise above adversity and bigotry. It’s also given me the skin of a rhinoceros, which comes in handy when you’re the CEO of Apple."
Angelica Ross
Angelica Ross, known for her roles in Pose and American Horror Story, is not only a trailblazing actress but also the founder of TransTech Social Enterprises. This organization supports trans and gender-non-conforming individuals by helping them find jobs and advance in their careers. Ross created TransTech to provide a space where, in her words, “Most trans people are either violently removed or not welcome in many educational and workspaces. It gives people a place where there’s no question that they belong and are valuable.”
Alan Turing
Alan Turing, a British mathematician, laid the foundations for computer science and artificial intelligence. During World War II, he played a key role in breaking German codes. In 1952, Turing was arrested for homosexuality and forced to undergo chemical castration. Because of his conviction, his security clearance was revoked and his cryptographic work at the Government Code and Cypher School, an institution where he was employed since 1938, ended. Turing died in 1954, and it was officially determined as a suicide by cyanide poisoning, even though those closed to him believed his death was accidental. In 2009, the British government formally apologized for the treatment he endured.
The contributions of the above individuals in the tech industry are not only about innovation but also about representation. When LGBTQIA+ people see pioneers like Tim Cook, Lynn Conway, Angelica Ross and Alan Turing, it can inspire passions in areas that may have once seemed out of reach. Technology shapes the future, and it is essential that this future is built by a diverse range of voices. LGBTQIA+ individuals have made lasting contributions to tech, and their inclusion is crucial to driving continued innovation. In an industry that prides itself on forward-thinking, there is no room for exclusion. The future of technology relies on embracing all voices, including those of the LGBTQIA+ community who continue to lead with pride and passion.
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