Brian Sims

And I learned that the difference between the sort of confidence it takes to intervene. I serve on a board of an organization that fights bullying. And one of the words that they often use is an upstander. The difference between a bystander is somebody that watches something happen and does nothing. An upstander is somebody that watches something happen and decides to do something, engage.

And I learned that the difference between the sort of confidence it takes to intervene. I serve on a board of an organization that fights bullying. And one of the words that they often use is an upstander. The difference between a bystander is somebody that watches something happen and does nothing. An upstander is somebody that watches something happen and decides to do something, engage.

And my mom... is the consummate upstander in my life. And that came from having to decide for her. She was one of the only women of her kind on any base she was ever on. My mom has a short haircut, has her whole adult professional life. I'm sure she was accused of being a lesbian at least once a week in her career in the military in the 80s and the 90s. And it didn't harden her.

And my mom... is the consummate upstander in my life. And that came from having to decide for her. She was one of the only women of her kind on any base she was ever on. My mom has a short haircut, has her whole adult professional life. I'm sure she was accused of being a lesbian at least once a week in her career in the military in the 80s and the 90s. And it didn't harden her.

It strengthened her.

It strengthened her.

Especially in those days for a woman. And I don't even, to be honest with you, I'm not even certain that she was allowed to have long hair as a woman in the military. But I also know without question that silly bigots who think that a haircut has a gender would have thought that my mother's haircut was inappropriate. And it's just a simple tiny thing. And I've never asked her and I have no idea.

Especially in those days for a woman. And I don't even, to be honest with you, I'm not even certain that she was allowed to have long hair as a woman in the military. But I also know without question that silly bigots who think that a haircut has a gender would have thought that my mother's haircut was inappropriate. And it's just a simple tiny thing. And I've never asked her and I have no idea.

But I now I've been doing this work long enough and I know where the root of a lot of people's silly bigotry can be placed. And I know that I am certain that she had to deal with men that did not think that she was equal to them because she was a woman. Men that didn't think that her experience as a combat nurse was as important as their experience as a combat soldier.

But I now I've been doing this work long enough and I know where the root of a lot of people's silly bigotry can be placed. And I know that I am certain that she had to deal with men that did not think that she was equal to them because she was a woman. Men that didn't think that her experience as a combat nurse was as important as their experience as a combat soldier.

And I'm happy to say I never confused the two.

And I'm happy to say I never confused the two.

This is... Which have nothing to do with substance or success.

This is... Which have nothing to do with substance or success.

I like to say that I didn't exactly get to decide. It was decided for me, but in a really wonderful way. I was a much bigger person when I was a teenager and when I was in my early 20s and I played American football in grammar school and in high school and then I played in college. And my college football team went to a national championship and I was the captain of that football team and we lost.

I like to say that I didn't exactly get to decide. It was decided for me, but in a really wonderful way. I was a much bigger person when I was a teenager and when I was in my early 20s and I played American football in grammar school and in high school and then I played in college. And my college football team went to a national championship and I was the captain of that football team and we lost.

And about a week and a half later, I was visiting another college, a college where my twin brother attended with some of my teammates. And they used that sort of private moment to ask me if I was gay. I think they had, these were my closest friends. These were people that I had lived with or around for the better part of four years.

And about a week and a half later, I was visiting another college, a college where my twin brother attended with some of my teammates. And they used that sort of private moment to ask me if I was gay. I think they had, these were my closest friends. These were people that I had lived with or around for the better part of four years.

And I think they were waiting for a moment when it wouldn't put me at risk to ask me. And I was honest with them. They were honest with me. We had a lot of questions for one another. And it was one of the most uplifting moments because it was extended over months.

And I think they were waiting for a moment when it wouldn't put me at risk to ask me. And I was honest with them. They were honest with me. We had a lot of questions for one another. And it was one of the most uplifting moments because it was extended over months.