In celebration of Pride Month, we’re sharing two stories about coming out with the help of science.

Part 1: After years of struggling with their gender identity, Parker Sublette finds inspiration in marine life.

Part 2: Bullied as a kid for the sound of his voice, Garret Glinka begins to reclaim his confidence thanks to biology class.

Parker Sublette is a comedian and speculative fiction writer living in Brooklyn, New York. She can usually be found scrambling around the city looking for any stage that will have her, or at home with her roommates and their two cats. Parker also sometimes hosts an open-mic in Bushwick, you can find her @parks_jokez on instagram.

Garret Glinka: I wear two hats: one as a businessman with half a Master’s in Business, and the other as a scientist, with another half in Biotechnology and Genomics, complemented by a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences. My background allows me to bridge the administrative and scientific worlds. Over the past six years, I’ve honed my expertise as a laboratory professional in both corporate and academic settings, helping operate and set up five laboratories domestically/internationally. I’ve been a technician, team leader, supervisor, and lab manager. As a member of the queer community, I bring kindness, authenticity, vulnerability, and positive influence to my leadership style. Now at Columbia University’s Neuroscience Institute, I manage two labs, lead the Gender and Inclusion Mentoring Program, and coordinate the Lab Liaison Group, ensuring communication across the institute’s departments and other lab managers. When I’m not dissecting Drosophila in New York City, or out to eat with Jersey City friends, I retreat to my family’s farm in central New Jersey. There you’ll find me tending to our goats and chickens, inspecting the crops, or racing dirt bikes with my three-year-old nephew, Jay. My life is a dynamic blend of science, leadership, community, and family, each enriching the other in unexpected ways.

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