In 1984, I was a 19-year-old rising tennis star with a huge secret. I was competing at the USTA national tennis center in New York, home of the U.S. Open tennis championships. I was competing at the United States Olympic tennis trials. My number one goal was to make the 1984 Olympic team, being held in Los Angeles.

Early in the morning as the sun rises and as you make your way down Wilton Drive, you will see the city of Wilton Manors has their cleaning team making sure every piece of trash has been picked up and that there is no refection of the night before.

Since 2006, I have dedicated my life's work to creating platforms that give a voice to our LGBTQ community and financial products on the NYSE and NASDAQ that help people invest in companies aligned with our LGBTQ principles and core values.

Throughout the years of the LGBTQ movement, our struggles, setbacks and disappointing legislation has made it a very difficult journey for most of our community members. Our community members have fought vigorously for equal rights and equal opportunities. We have made tremendous strides, but there is still so much work to do.