Amplifying Diverse Voices at CommentSold: Celebrating PRIDE with Vance Banks

Pride Month is more than a 30-day stretch on the calendar, rainbow everything at your favorite boutique, or a parade. It is a celebration of love and joy, a time to acknowledge the contributions that members of the LGBTQIA+ community make to the world, and a call-to-action to create space and give power to marginalized voices. At CommentSold we're building a culture of belonging. We're committed to supporting, recognizing, and nurturing our LGBTQIA+ family, not just during the month of June, but year-round.

We're amplifying the diverse voices that make up our CommentSold fam--this month hear from Vance Banks who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community and our CS fam. Vance has been leading LGBTQIA+ initiatives at CS, providing a safe space for folks to connect by encouraging open dialogue and providing LGBTQIA+ resources.

Vance Banks (left) with his partner James Covington (right)

What do you do here at CommentSold, and how long have you worked here?

I am the Product Design Lead for CommentSold, and I have been working with the company since November 2020, so about seven months now.

What's the most exciting part of your job?

The most exciting part about my job is working with the developers, QA, and product team members to solve the unique problems our users may be experiencing.

What inspired you to work in your field?

I actually started a career in this field by accident. Throughout college, I studied Game Design and Product Management. When I moved to San Francisco, the game industry, at that time, was suffering from industry-wide layoffs, so I decided to branch out and apply for something different. 

What made you choose to join the fam at CommentSold?

The users and problems CommentSold strives to solve are unique, and I wanted to help solve these intricate problems. 

At CommentSold we have some pretty amazing (and forward!) values—which of our core values resonates most with you and why?

When I was researching CommentSold, I was looking for a company that championed diversity and inclusion. So when I saw “Don’t be an asshole” as one of their core values, I knew that this was a company that strives to treat all team members with respect no matter their background. 

What challenges have you had to overcome as a member of the LGBTQIA community in your career over the years?

The main obstacle I had to overcome in my career was to be unapologetically me. When I first started in this field, I was very conservative of the colors I wore, my mannerisms, etc., all to pass as a straight cis male. Now I’ve dropped that guise, and I am loud and proud. 

What do you think workplace allyship looks like?

My ideal workplace allyship would be one in which allies and LGBTQIA+ members can help teach and educate one another about issues, terms, identities, and more.

How can LGBTQIA+ communities benefit from solidarity?

Our journey and struggles may be different, but we must stand in solidarity with other members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Most of us, if not all, have faced discrimination and divided we are weak, but as a unit, we are strong. In the same theme as the previous question, we need allyship within the LGBTQIA+ community to educate one another about issues we may not understand. 

If you're interested in joining the CommentSold fam, check out our job board!

Interview by Britni Worley, Talent Acquisition Specialist at CommentSold