Congressional Ties
As the first out transgender congressional staffer, Diego Sanchez has complicated – and sometimes competing – objectives
by Chris Geidner
Published on July 14, 2010, 10:30pm
http://www.metroweekly.com/feature/?ak=5430''Being sometimes the first transgender person in their workspace – openly disclosed as trans – is an important part of what it is that we need to achieve, member by member, staffer by staffer,'' Diego Sanchez says.
Sanchez was born into a military family where the values of respect and standing up for yourself – and the importance of hierarchy – were key. After moving from Panama to Georgia at the age of 7, Sanchez continued on that path, through the University of Georgia and into the upper reaches of corporate America. Starting at public-relations giant Burson-Marsteller in New York City, Sanchez eventually worked for the Coca Cola Company, ITT Sheraton and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, where he rose to be the global vice president of communications and diversity.