Justin Bousquet pays forward love, acceptance lessons from parents
Justin Bousquet, senior treasury management consultant, has witnessed others overcome adversity. He’s driven by a personal mission to inspire others with his support and belief in their limitless possibilities.
Bousquet dedicates time and funds to mentoring LGBTQIA+ youth and teaching financial education to make a tangible difference in their lives. It’s his way of paying forward the invaluable lessons in unconditional love and acceptance he received and inspiring a future where everyone can thrive.
Bousquet grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, with parents who were examples of loving others as they are. “My parents have always taught me to accept everybody,” he recalls. When he came out to his dad, the response was a simple yet powerful affirmation of his love and support. “OK. Great. Is there anything else I can do for you?” After telling his mother soon after, he says she offered to expense a shopping trip as a display of her love and support.
The responses from his parents and the kind people who’ve shown up for the Atlanta LGBTQIA+ community keep him grounded and always ready to encourage others. One woman, Lynn Barfield, who was also known as the mayor of Midtown (Atlanta), inspired Bousquet to achieve a high level of outreach in his community. “She spent countless hours giving to the LGBTQIA+ community and was always at local establishments,” he recalls. “When she walked in the door, if there were 200 people, she’d hug everyone. She was just a phenomenal woman.” Barfield died in her sleep unexpectedly in 2022 but left a legacy of love that inspired Bousquet.
His role of teaching financial education to teenagers through Prism's community outreach initiatives is very important to how he supports others. Bousquet, the group’s treasurer, leads lessons focusing on responsible spending, the importance of credit scores, simple banking terms and job opportunities. He shares that he’s conducted mock interviews with some of the teens of Atlanta-based nonprofit, Lost-n-Found Youth, to build confidence on their road to independence and becoming financially responsible adults.
“My parents have always taught me to accept everybody.”
Prism was created to educate, inspire and support the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies by promoting an understanding of and equality for diverse sexual orientation and gender identities in the workplace. The ERG’s outreach has touched other nonprofit organizations, such as the Nashville Launchpad
Outside of volunteering, he’s a member of a Stonewall Sports League bowling team, where he also previously played one of his favorite sports, softball. As a child and a St. Johns River State College student in Palatka, Florida, he played softball for two years. He remembers not feeling like he could be himself in the small town, which motivates him to live a rewarding life with his partner, Emmy-winning makeup artist Leo Satkovich, and their two dogs, Bert and Ernie.
Bousquet makes a difference in inclusivity at work, in his community and the lives of others. The need for support is a personal ideal and professional one, he says. He shares that some ally Prism members have children who are LGBTQIA+, and they sometimes need help understanding how to approach sensitive topics and feelings. The group advises on how to instill confidence in LGBTQIA+ children to face challenges. In speaking of one Prism team member parent, “As he raises his kids, he feels like he can now do it in the right way, and that’s powerful.”
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