Before coming to HBS I was a submarine officer in the US Navy. Submarines were my entire life. They consumed all my working hours and much of my social life too, since almost all my friends were fellow submariners. Nevertheless, it was an incredible experience. I learned so much about leadership, service, and sacrifice. Through the adversity, I made some lifelong friendships. But there was something that the Navy lacked: a community for LGBTQ+ individuals. There were no other “out” individuals on my all-male submarine of 120 sailors. I never even knew that I needed such a community until I got to HBS and became a part of PRIDE. It has changed my perspective on everything. It’s so important to be a part of a community that fully understands what it means for me to be gay. [...]