We hope your Pride Month has been full of love, happiness, and connection! We’re excited to share an employee Pride spotlight from Jessi Adams, one of our assistant managers based in Twin Falls, ID. She chatted with us about what Pride means to her and shared some insights as a member of the LGBTQ community. Read on and stay tuned for more spotlights later this month!
Jessi Adams
What is your name and what are your pronouns?
Jessi (she/her)
What is your position and how long have you been with rue21?
FT Assistant Manager. This month marks one year with rue21! 🙂
What does Pride Month mean to you?
Pride to me means celebrating the progress that has been made as a community and promoting rights for all. Celebrating the ability to be yourself and encouraging those around you to live openly/unapologetically as well.
What issues facing the LGBTQ community would you like to increase awareness of?
Protecting trans/LGBTQ youth and their rights to be who they want without repercussions.
Name a role model you admire in the LGBTQ community. How do they inspire you?
Freddie Mercury is my icon. While he never officially came out, he never tried to hide his sexuality necessarily. He was openly himself despite what was considered wrong in that time. He made so many people feel comfortable with themselves both while he was alive and after he passed.
How are you planning to celebrate?
This year I’m celebrating Pride with my younger siblings who recently came out as bisexual and pansexual. While there isn’t much to do in our town relating to pride, we plan on going to our first pride parade together!
If you could speak to your younger self, what would you say?
If I could talk to my younger self, I would let her know that it’s ok. That things might seem scary, but to be brave and it will work out in the end. That while there will always be hardships the support you’ll receive by expressing who you really are might surprise you.
Stay tuned for more stories of Pride! Wishing you all a safe and happy month!
