Hi, I’m Rick Anderson from Pearland, Texas.
I grew up in the Clear Lake and Friendswood area during the eighties and nineties, a very conservative, Christian community.
As a Black child who was also gay, I often felt different and isolated. My mom noticed this and encouraged me to take up a creative hobby like drawing. One day at Walgreens, I discovered comic books by the checkout counter, and one series, The X-Men, stood out to me. These characters were different, like me, but they had unique talents they used to help others.
This resonated with me deeply.
I spent much of my childhood drawing and reading these comic books, finding solace in their stories of representation and heroism.
During this time, I also played little league baseball in an area called the Brio site, which was later revealed to be a toxic chemical dump causing numerous health issues. A lawyer named Joe Jamail took on the company responsible, leading to its declaration as a Superfund site.
Seeing Jamail’s efforts to protect the community inspired me to become a “super lawyer” like him.
When it was time to apply to colleges, I toured universities on the East Coast and found myself at Howard University in D.C. While there, I met a lawyer named Charles, who also had an office in Houston.
After returning home, I reached out to him, interviewed, and got hired at his firm. Charles was gay, something I discovered later, and the firm was led by two Black women with strong political connections in Houston. This exposure opened doors I never would have seen otherwise.
I went on to attend Baylor University for both college and law school, following in the footsteps of Leon Jaworsky. After graduation, I returned to Houston to work at a litigation law firm, handling the big cases I had always dreamed of. During this time, I met another Baylor alum, a lawyer who was openly gay and proud.
He ran for judge and had his partner by his side at campaign events, showing me that it was possible to be successful and authentic.
Another Black, openly gay lawyer also inspired me during my career. From them, I learned that I didn’t have to hide or change who I was to succeed. Eventually, I realized that the version of myself that was camouflaging had to die.
During this transition, I reached out to the Baylor lawyer I admired, seeking advice and reassurance about coming out professionally. He told me, “This is not going to change who you are, your accomplishments, or your talents. So don’t be afraid.”
After coming out, I didn’t lose my job, the respect of my peers, or my clients. In fact, my career flourished. I was more authentic, and there was nothing holding me back. Reflecting on my childhood, I realize I had the audacity to dream of a happy life with a partner, a family, a successful career, and great friends. Today, that’s exactly what I have.
In one of the X-Men movies, Mystique is told that hiding her true self takes a lot of energy and that being herself would make her more powerful. That resonated with me.
Once I embraced my true self, my career took off, and I became the super lawyer I always aspired to be.
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