Jennifer and Sam, a lesbian couple in Taiwan, had a rather unusual wedding ceremony. Instead of Jennifer’s father walking her down the aisle as tradition dictates, the CEO of her company did the honor.
In spite of being a couple for over a decade, Jennifer’s parents have never acknowledged her relationship. They don’t accept Sam, and they don’t accept that their daughter is a lesbian. It’s little surprise then that they declined to attend the pair’s nuptials.
The larger surprise, however, may be the show of support for Jennifer and Sam from HSBC, Jennifer’s employer. The country’s HSBC CEO, John Li, accompanied her down the aisle, telling her to “walk slowly and try not to be nervous.”
Although Jennifer says she was initially reluctant to come out to her co-workers—working in a conservative banking environment added to her hesitation—the show of support and acceptance she experienced when she finally showed her true self was remarkable.
If there’s one takeaway from this heartwarming tale, it’s that comfort and love come from many directions. A job isn’t just a job—or, at least, it doesn’t have to be if you find the right company and colleagues.
Because wouldn’t it be great if the amount of time we spent at the office amounted to more than a paycheck?