The Words Matter: One Voice Can Make a Difference

When Michael Chanak took a job at Procter & Gamble in the mid 1980s, the AIDS epidemic was rampant. The company had found a niche with Peridex—a prescription mouthwash used to treat thrush in people suffering from HIV/AIDS. But despite selling to the LGBT community, P&G had no language protecting these individuals within the company. Chanak, who’d become a vocal gay rights activist, wanted to change that. With years of work and help from a small but determined group of colleagues, in 1992, P&G became one of the first Fortune 500 companies to add sexual orientation to its equal employment opportunity (EEO) statement of diversity. Twenty-five years later, that legacy lives on. This is the story of one man’s efforts to hold a corporation responsible and ultimately improve the lives of LGBT workers across the country.

This story is a part of our Human Condition series. Come along and let us connect you to some of the most peculiar, stirring, extraordinary, and distinctive people in the world.

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[milhouse]

Thank you P&G for leading the way for LGBT protection in the workplace, and thank you Great Big Story for this beautiful story. 🌈

[ainsleyharriott]

My friend works for P&G and has said for years its a great company to work for with a good work environment. It is nice to see big companies operating in an ethical and forward thinking way.

[LizVesper]

Thank you Michael, P&G, and GBS for telling this important part of history.

[eratriano]

As a P&G shareholder, I am especially pleased to see this. :-)

[rickyramos]

I was hired in '83. Proud to be a retiree. Knowing the corporate culture of P&G, this was a monumental accomplishment!

[yawarakai]

Followed you since you had 700k, now 2.2m, amazing!

[dayita]

Proud to be part of P&G Costa Rica <3

[frustratedlad]

This came up as an ad and it was so interesting I had to come find it

[TheGrantia]

DAMN!!! What a G R E A T video! Thank-you, GBS!

[AKNOT]

That's an amazing amount of courage to stand up to the system. Right now it would be difficult but I can't even imagine the cajones it would have taken back then.  Way to go.  A lot of people can learn how to stand up for what is right from this video.

[sharonwebster]

Very inspiring and emotional video. Thank you for keeping this time alive.

[aroundthegoodworld]

What an incredible video! You're such a great inspiration for my channel. Keep it up :)

[jasonstamp]

Thank you so much for this video! Thank you for sharing this piece of LGBT history I didn't know about. I would love to see more long-form videos like this.

[bluzshadez]

My Mentor from almost 2 decades ago told me this, "If words can hurt you, then you are weak." I knew that what he meant was not giving in to insults, name-calling or gossips. In an indirect way, he informed me to practice self restraint against those people who would be rude towards me. We're all humans and words do hurt and whatever is being said to somebody does matter.

[naveedinamullah]

people are not equal. if they are equal they are not free

[florian]

the music is way to loud during the interviews...

[onelungg]

Words Do Not Matter. Offence is Taken Not Given

[SponzifyMee]

Great job from people in the past, now let's yell messages of personal responsibility so people can get a decent life going and flourish.

[anonymous]

Didn't know Procter and Gamble was this cringe!

[Aki.]

Wtf... It's just gay and lesbian people. Why people make it big deal? To be honest, I like gay people as my friends. They are trustworthy and kind. For lesbian people, I'm not sure what to say t9 them because I've never had a friend that's lesbian.