My MBA Journey: Celebrating National Coming Out Day with Three Inspiring Stories

Last Updated on October 20, 2023 by Robert C. Hoopes

Harvard Business School (HBS) is proud to be participating in a series of events throughout October in celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. This comes in honor of both National Coming Out Day and LGBTQ+ History Month.
As part of these celebrations, HBS PRIDE Club has organized a National Coming Out Day storyboard series, featuring personal stories from current students. These stories aim to inspire and empower individuals within the LGBTQ+ community.
One student from the Class of 2025, Yanzhan Wen, shares his experience of growing up in a socially conservative household and facing homophobic taunts. Despite this adversity, Wen found inspiration and hope through LGBTQ+ role models who helped him navigate his own journey of self-acceptance.
Roch Desrousseaux, also from the Class of 2025, shares his own coming out story. Desrousseaux struggled with his faith and tried to convince himself that he wasn’t gay. However, he eventually found the strength to come out to his parents, who reacted with love and acceptance, allowing Desrousseaux to embrace his true self.
Matt Wood, a member of the Class of 2024, talks about how coming out as queer gave him agency and the ability to shape his personal and professional life. He also credits his family for their unwavering support throughout his journey.
The article emphasizes the importance of representation and highlights the need for LGBTQ+ individuals to have role models who inspire and guide them. By sharing these personal stories, HBS aims to create a supportive and inclusive environment for its LGBTQ+ community members.
To learn more about the LGBTQ+ community at HBS and stay updated about the events happening this month, the HBS PRIDE Club encourages everyone to visit their Instagram page (@prideathbs). From informative posts to features about important individuals within the community, the Instagram page is a valuable resource for those interested in learning more.