Amazon’s LGBTQ employees and their allies initially organized through an email list in 1999 that provided notice of happy hours and discussions after work.
“It became obvious quickly there was no issue about it.”ĭiscovering “ glamazon” made Shams feel even more comfortable. The openly gay Miami transplant wasn’t yet familiar with Seattle’s inclusive environment or how he would go about disclosing his sexual orientation in the workplace. “My first day as an intern I was walking down Pike Street and saw multiple LGBTQ couples holding hands and thought, ‘Okay, I like this place,’” Shams said.
When Amin Shams thinks back to 2012 and the start of his career at Amazon, he can’t help but feel thankful for what he experienced during the first few days in his new city.
