Pride Month goes beyond simple celebration—it’s a reminder of CapMetro’s commitment to uplift different voices, highlighting the stories of people who help our agency stay connected to the communities we serve. This June, we’re featuring two employees, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who help shape our work and strengthen our mission.
Jacob LaBorde, an Environmental Regulatory Coordinator with the agency, came to Austin, TX from Louisiana after college, taking a huge leap in the name of finding a solid community and support system. “We get these negative impulses and instincts drilled into us sometimes when we’re young and we don’t really notice it until we’re older,” he reflects. He combats this by sharing messages of love and acceptance whenever he can. “You have nothing to feel ashamed for, people love you and want to be around you. It’s a message I think a lot of people need to hear.”
Ed Easton, CapMetro Board Relations Manager, is the proud parent of a trans daughter. After adopting a child from Thailand in 2009, she announced to her parents that she felt like a girl and wanted to be referred to as a girl, even sharing a new name with Ed and his wife. “I don’t think there was any question that we were going to accept her. My wife and I have always been unconditionally accepting of our child,” says Easton, adding that there were concerns about acceptance outside of the family. “Certainly, being a teenager in America is difficult enough. But being a transgender teenage comes with its own issues and things you need to look out for.”
For Jacob, Pride Month recognizes a community that exists; a community ready to accept those who may be struggling. The first step is scary, he admits, “Pride Month gives people permission to go out there and try new things, and that’s really cool.” As LaBorde points out, sometimes representation finds a home in unlikely places. In the early 1990s, kid’s channel Nickelodeon ran a series of animations and interstitial programming on openly gay artist, Keith Haring. The artist’s philosophy that art isn’t just for adults rang true at the network and his bright character illustrations held the attention of Nickelodeon’s demographic. Haring’s artwork was on the walls of characters’ rooms and even appeared on clothing in some shows.
Easton and his wife have supported the LGBTQ+ community even before they adopted their daughter, often marching in Austin’s Pride Parade with CapMetro. He has a picture of his daughter from the 2000s, much younger then, sitting in the driver’s seat of the bus before they pulled out of the bus yard to the parade’s staging area along San Jacinto Blvd. downtown.
Representation requires effort; important work with a weighted responsibility. “Really all she wants, more than anything, is just to be a girl,” Easton shares, adding that his daughter often gets called upon to be featured in advocacy work or LGBTQIA+ campaigns. “She has no fear, she’s incredibly brave and we are trying to encourage her to be a voice out there for the community because it’s so important. But she largely just wants to be seen as a normal girl.”
As Pride Month rolls on, we’re looking forward to further celebrating with the Austin community later this year at the Pride Parade and festival in August. We’re grateful to Ed and Jacob for sharing their stories and reminding us why representation matters. At CapMetro, we’re committed to building a workplace—and a transit system—where everyone feels seen, supported and celebrated for who they are.
