“Lesbian Visibility Means Hope”
Interview with Alison Koch, Digital Sales Coordinator at Marsh McLennan Agency, in the last of our special series of short articles on the importance of Lesbian Visibility Week
“I just turned 50 recently and grew up during the times when things slowly started glimmering a rainbow light,” says Alison. We’re discussing why lesbian visibility remains an important concept today, and right away she recalls the emergence of prominent lesbian personalities and characters in TV shows such as My So Called Life, The Ellen Show, and The L Word.
“When these shows aired you got a glimpse of who you were and that it was ok to be a lesbian,” she says. This was even more important when her daily life “didn’t provide me anyone to look up to”, which made it harder for her to figure out who she was.
It’s a powerful statement of the need for role models. Or, as Alison puts it: “Just like things were when I was growing up, we still need visibility and mentors. Young ones trying to determine who they are need support.”
“Being visible shows others that you can be successful”
This is even more the case today due to what she wryly describes as “the joys of social media and all the negative things that can bring on. Being visible shows others that you can be successful. It gives women the courage to live their dreams and become the scientist, the rock star, or in my case a great insurance agent.”
The kaleidoscope of identity is a theme she warms to when we turn the subject of her lesbian identity: “I am many things, and being a Lesbian with a bold L on my forehead is part of what makes me who I am. I like to think that others will have lesbian as one of my descriptors, but also kind, helpful, creative, a doer, intelligent, and many other adjectives. I am proud of all the pieces that make me me, and being a lesbian has helped me find my path in life.”
That said, Alison admits that she struggled with being open about her sexual identity in the workplace for many years: “I didn’t tell my coworkers who I really was and was in hiding.”
Then she met her wife, who encouraged Alison to be out in their relationship. This “was a sigh of relief after my last girlfriend having been very much in the closet,” Alison says.
“As time went on, I started letting people in, and found support in each and every one that I did let in. Now I let my coworkers know, and it’s easy since my wife is also my coworker. I handle the sales, and she is an amazing claims advocate. I get to tell my clients we are the power couple of insurance!”
“It’s been great to see the support come from Marsh to do what’s right”
Alison has been at Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA) for several years now. In 2023 the company chose her to develop a new hybrid role as a Digital Sales Coordinator, a challenge she has really enjoyed: “This new role takes all my abilities to sell, to mentor, to troubleshoot, and to be a utility player and roll it all into one. With this role I get to help clients and colleagues with any needed quotes and questions.”
It was shortly after starting this role that a colleague reached out to Alison to join him in supporting the LGBTQ+ community through the LGBTQ Real Estate Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to empowering the LGBTQ+ community in homeownership.
“With MMA’s new digital platform, we developed a link for anyone in the community to get an insurance quote in a safe space,” she says. “All the sales leads come to me or another member of the queer community or an ally that has taken allyship and unconscious bias courses. We are currently looking for more ways to spread the word to allow us to help more clients find their safe space. All this has been supported by Marsh. It’s been so great to see the support come from Marsh to do what’s right.”
Speaking of company support for the LGBTQ+ community, what does Alison think organizations can do to better support their lesbian employees?
“Providing support from management or marketing for events,” she says. “Just showing up at a lesbian event, showing you respect their efforts and the cause. Also, making sure we are all getting equal pay…this applies to all women. We always seem to be a step behind even though from my perspective we are always putting in the extra effort.” She adds: “Marsh has stepped up to support LGBTQ2S+ employees by providing approval for events, funds, marketing materials, IT, and more.”
She thinks co-workers can show up to events and show solidarity too, if supporting their lesbian and other LGBTQ+ colleagues is important to them. “Support their events, ideas, and wins by attending, liking on social media, or standing behind them and supporting them in meetings.”
On a day-to-day basis, supporting lesbian co-workers is about being open and sensitive to how they want to be treated: “Just like everyone else we want to be respected. Some will want to share, and others won’t. Just like all your other coworkers, it takes some situational awareness and empathy to read the person and what they need.”
“We are still here, still fighting, still helping each other”
Given what many are describing as a “vibe shift” in politics and parts of the media and corporate world against diversity, equity, and inclusion, what positives does Alison see for the LGBTQ+ community and allies right now?
“We are still here, still fighting, and still helping each other each and every day,” she says, adding: “Marsh is certainly continuing with DEI to help support all colleagues, no question. I’m getting support from my manager, director, and my coworkers.”
She continues: “One of the biggest challenges many of us face right now is that we have families that we can’t take risks for, even when going to our local Pride events, for example. With being a resident of Northern Idaho, we have had a few scary years within our cities and especially at our Pride events. I am stepping up and having a booth at Pride this year in a few local cities. I will be visible.”
This once again shows how important the notion of visibility is for Alison. To take a stand and be counted.
“I do see myself as a role model,” she says. “I’m always willing to help anyone I can. I look at it as they need help today, and I may need help tomorrow. Plus, I always feel I grow from these relationships.”
She adds: “I look up to those who have been successful and continue to help others along the way. I have met several in my company and other companies doing this each and every day. They will spend time answering questions and helping those around them to be successful too. Helping and supporting and uplifting each other through visibility is really what’s it all about.”
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