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Pride Month 2024: Reflect. Empower. Unite.

June 25, 2024

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility

June is Pride Month—an opportunity to welcome diversity in communities, celebrate the acceptance of others, and reaffirm our commitment to equality. In celebration, Lydia Wagoner shared her personal story of LGBTQIA+ acceptance.

Lydia Wagoner’s Story

My name is Lydia Wagoner, and I am currently working on a large federal public health agency contract. I live in the Northern Virginia area with my fiancée and our 4-year-old (almost 5) daughter, Zuri. As Pride Month approaches, I feel compelled to share why it holds such significance for me and my family.

I want to emphasize to the LMI community that there is no predetermined timeline or right age to come out. Personally, I didn’t come out until I was 25 years old. Meeting my fiancée at 26 marked a significant turning point in my life. She embraced my daughter as her own, and she showered her with love and kindness, embodying the role of a nurturing bonus parent. I always call her “our angel.”

Currently, we are planning our wedding for April 2025 in San Francisco, California. We are immensely fortunate to have families that embrace and support our relationship. We recognize that not everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community shares this familial acceptance, and we are grateful for the love and support we receive.

My journey as a queer individual has guided my career path in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA), leading me to pursue a master’s degree in women, sexuality, and gender studies. Through this process, I not only found my life partner and soulmate, but fueled my passion for advocating for underrepresented communities, including the LGBTQIA+ community both in and out of the workplace.

As Pride Month unfolds, I invite you to share in the joy of our journey by viewing some of our most cherished moments. Happy Pride Month!

Lydia Wagoner and her fiancée


This article is for informational purposes only and the views expressed are those of the individual author(s) and are not necessarily those of LMI.