--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since 1993, I have had the rich…" description: "\"Since 1993, I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing and working with many openly gay and lesbian Americans, and I have come to realize that 'gay' i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/alan-k-simpson-13509_commitment_since-1993-i-have-had-the-rich-satisfact_295116.jpg" --- # Since 1993, I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing… ![“Since 1993, I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing and working with many openly gay and lesbian Americans, and I have come to realize that 'gay' is an artificial category when it comes to measuring a man or woman's on-the-job performance or commitment to shared goals. It says little about the…” quote by Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/alan-k-simpson-13509_commitment_since-1993-i-have-had-the-rich-satisfact_295116.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/alan-k-simpson-13509_commitment_since-1993-i-have-had-the-rich-satisfact_295116.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/042/alan-k-simpson-13509_commitment_since-1993-i-have-had-the-rich-satisfact_295116.jpg) > “Since 1993, I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing and working with many openly gay and lesbian Americans, and I have come to realize that 'gay' is an artificial category when it comes to measuring a man or woman's on-the-job performance or commitment to shared goals. It says little about the person.” [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Argues that sexual orientation is irrelevant to job performance and teamwork, urging focus on individual merit **In simple terms:** Sexual orientation shouldn't affect job evaluation Key Takeaway Judge people by work, not labels Themes inclusion workplace equality human dignity Mood thoughtful advocacy Type policy social When to use this quote - hiring processes - team building - leadership training - policy development Key Concepts bias reduction performance metrics Questions to Reflect On - How can organizations ensure true equity beyond labels? - What measures reveal hidden biases? A Different Perspective May overlook systemic discrimination that still affects outcomes ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay Artificial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-artificial-2831327/) [Gay Lesbian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-lesbian/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Lesbian Americans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lesbian-americans-2166537/) [Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Openly Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/openly-gay/) [Realize Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realize-gay-2831326/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Satisfaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfaction/) ## Related quotes > [I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing and working with many openly gay and lesbian Americans, and I have come to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/i-have-had-the-rich-satisfaction-of-knowing-and-working-with-many/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [It is astonishing that gay and lesbian Americans are still treated as second-class citizens. I am confident that, very soon, the laws of this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-clooney/it-is-astonishing-that-gay-and-lesbian-americans-are-still-treated-as/) [George Clooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-clooney/) > [By the mid-noughties, I found that I was no longer the only openly gay person in every setting. At one point, a couple of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/by-the-mid-noughties-i-found-that-i-was-no-longer-the-only-openly-gay/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [We cannot keep turning our backs on gay and lesbian Americans. I have fought too hard and too long against discrimination based on race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-cannot-keep-turning-our-backs-on-gay-and-lesbian-americans-i-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am very annoyed about this issue. Why can’t it be a choice? Why is that any less legitimate? It seems we’re just ceding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-nixon/i-am-very-annoyed-about-this-issue-why-can-t-it-be-a-choice-why-is/) [Cynthia Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-nixon/) > [There are still parts of the country where it's hard: when you realize you're gay, it's like a death sentence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-lynch/there-are-still-parts-of-the-country-where-it-s-hard-when-you-realize/) [Jane Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-lynch/) > [Lots of women don't realize that they're gay until they're grown up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clare-balding/lots-of-women-don-t-realize-that-they-re-gay-until-they-re-grown-up/) [Clare Balding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clare-balding/) > [While I was doing shitty little bar shows in the Central Valley in 2004, I was being out and helping people realize that gay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-branum/while-i-was-doing-shitty-little-bar-shows-in-the-central-valley-in/) [Guy Branum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-branum/) > [I now realize that I am a gay man before anything else. Other gays may think they're a Jew first, or black, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-kramer/i-now-realize-that-i-am-a-gay-man-before-anything-else-other-gays-may/) [Larry Kramer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-kramer/) > [Wearing Crocs is like getting blown by a dude. It feels great until you look down and realize you're gay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-carolla/wearing-crocs-is-like-getting-blown-by-a-dude-it-feels-great-until/) [Adam Carolla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-carolla/) > [You can't be an openly gay movie star. You can't be an openly gay pop star, really - minus Ricky Martin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-jones/you-can-t-be-an-openly-gay-movie-star-you-can-t-be-an-openly-gay-pop/) [Rashida Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-jones/) > [On the court, Jason Collins is not a huge basketball star, but he has already claimed his place in civil rights history as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/on-the-court-jason-collins-is-not-a-huge-basketball-star-but-he-has/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [It's 2018, and being an openly gay man and an athlete, that is part of the face of America now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/it-s-2018-and-being-an-openly-gay-man-and-an-athlete-that-is-part-of/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) > [While it was refreshing to finally see an openly gay man speak at a Republican convention, it doesn't remove the stain of selecting Mike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/while-it-was-refreshing-to-finally-see-an-openly-gay-man-speak-at-a/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [I didn't set out to be the first openly gay athlete playing in a major American team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-collins/i-didn-t-set-out-to-be-the-first-openly-gay-athlete-playing-in-a/) [Jason Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-collins/) ## More by Alan K. Simpson > [Those who travel the high road of humility are not troubled by heavy traffic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/those-who-travel-the-high-road-of-humility-are-not-troubled-by-heavy/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [If the need for comprehensive campaign finance reform was not already clear, the Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United permitting unlimited corporate and union…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/if-the-need-for-comprehensive-campaign-finance-reform-was-not-already/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [Across the nation, there are thousands of individuals serving life or life-equivalent sentences for crimes they committed as children. This means they will likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/across-the-nation-there-are-thousands-of-individuals-serving-life-or/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [If children who commit crimes are not given the opportunity of a second chance, they may die in prison for acts made before having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/if-children-who-commit-crimes-are-not-given-the-opportunity-of-a/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [If you're in the game long enough, you're going to be the toast of the town one day, and the next day you'll be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/if-you-re-in-the-game-long-enough-you-re-going-to-be-the-toast-of-the/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [The person you are at 13 or 17 is not the person you are at 30, 40, or 50. Everyone old enough to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/the-person-you-are-at-13-or-17-is-not-the-person-you-are-at-30-40-or/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [Stemming the tide of special interest campaign cash - and restoring fiscal responsibility in Congress - is no easy task. But there is one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/stemming-the-tide-of-special-interest-campaign-cash-and-restoring/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [In World War II, a British mathematician named Alan Turing led the effort to crack the Nazis' communication code. He mastered the complex German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/in-world-war-ii-a-british-mathematician-named-alan-turing-led-the/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [America's Founders were committed to a wide-open public forum in which all voices and perspectives could have a chance of being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/america-s-founders-were-committed-to-a-wide-open-public-forum-in/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [A society like ours, which professes no one religion and has allowed all religions to decay, which indulges freedom to the point of license…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/a-society-like-ours-which-professes-no-one-religion-and-has-allowed/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [I am living proof that youth possess a unique capacity to grow and change - that the child who seems hopeless today could go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/i-am-living-proof-that-youth-possess-a-unique-capacity-to-grow-and/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [Voluntary public funding of elections solves the free speech 'problem' with more speech instead of more regulation: by giving qualified candidates who show broad-based…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/voluntary-public-funding-of-elections-solves-the-free-speech-problem/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [We have two political parties in this country, the Stupid Party and the Evil Party. I belong to the Stupid Party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/we-have-two-political-parties-in-this-country-the-stupid-party-and/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [When a young person is sent 'up the river,' we need to remember that all rivers can change course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/when-a-young-person-is-sent-up-the-river-we-need-to-remember-that-all/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) > [The word liberal distinguishes whatever nourishes the mind and spirit from the training which is merely practical or professional or from the trivialities which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-k-simpson/the-word-liberal-distinguishes-whatever-nourishes-the-mind-and-spirit/) [Alan K. Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) [Explore all 50 Alan K. Simpson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-k-simpson/) ## More Commitment quotes > [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“You make me believe in happiness... if I had my way, if anything were up to me, I’d never be without you. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-kirchoff/you-make-me-believe-in-happiness-if-i-had-my-way-if-anything-were-up/) [Courtney Kirchoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-kirchoff/) > [Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else, although, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/golf-is-such-a-big-commitment-and-so-is-acting-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [When you make a commitment to a relationship, you invest your attention and energy in it more profoundly because you now experience ownership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/when-you-make-a-commitment-to-a-relationship-you-invest-your/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [ “For \[erotically intelligent couples\], love is a vessel that contains both security and adventure, and commitment offers one of the great luxuries of life:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-erotically-intelligent-couples-love-is-a-vessel-that-contains/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 4,004 Commitment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since 1993, I have had the rich satisfaction of knowing and working with many openly gay and lesbian Americans, and I have come to realize that 'gay' is an artificial category when it comes to measuring a man or woman's on-the-job performance or commitment to shared goals. 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