NYLPride: Supporting our LGBTQ+ employees.

To mark Pride Month, we asked the co-chairs of NYLPride what the employee resource group means to them and their careers at New York Life.

New York Life’s employee resource groups (ERGs) are voluntary, employee-led groups that welcome all employees and help foster a diverse and inclusive workplace aligned with New York Life’s mission, values, and goals. The NYLPride ERG, which began in 2006, is an active group with 10 office locations across the country. 

Doug Muscillo, Technology; NYLPride co-chair

Q: Tell us about your experience with NYLPride.

A: I joined NYLPride shortly after joining New York Life about 11 years ago. It was one of the best decisions I made in my career! NYLPride has offered me opportunities and connections at New York Life I most likely wouldn’t have had otherwise. In 2015, I was offered a role on the NYLPride Core Leadership Team as a representative of New York Life to our external partner OPEN Finance. In this role, I was able to learn how different companies operated their ERGs and how those groups influenced their companies to provide a better working experience for their LGBTQ+ employees. 

In 2018, I became the Communications lead for NYLPride and became responsible for the NYLPride page on The Square, email communications to members, and promoting our events. Towards the end of 2019, I created Pride Press, a quarterly newsletter which expanded to monthly when the pandemic hit in March 2020. This was helpful in keeping employees connected during a time of isolation. 

In January 2023, I was appointed co-chair of the ERG and worked closely that year with the other co-chair, Brian Taylor. As the senior co-chair, Brian showed me how to run an organization and the importance of leadership. In January 2024, I became the senior co-chair.

Q: What does Pride mean to you?

A: Pride to me means many things:

• Celebration – We should all celebrate who we are by embracing different cultures.
• Belonging – Being part of the group and know you are not alone.
• Freedom – Express yourself and have confidence.
• Authenticity – Always be your authentic self. Have pride in who you are.
• Equality – Be respectful of the others and treat them equally.
• Acceptance – Accept everyone’s individual identities and be proud of who they are and what we can achieve.

Q: What are your hopes for the future of the NYLPride ERG?

A: My biggest hope is NYLPride grows its membership. Employees don’t need to be LGBTQ+ to join. We welcome allies to the community. NYLPride’s mission is for “New York Life’s LGBTQ+ and allies to maintain, encourage, and nurture a diverse, open, and inclusive work culture where gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning employees can maximize their professional growth and contribute fully to their individual success and the success of New York Life.”

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