James Ramey / Anheuser-Busch named Grand Marshal
For the past eight years, James Ramey has developed
and managed the production of all Anheuser-Busch's GLBT-specific
marketing. It was a journey that did not follow so-called
traditional paths. "It was more a personal odyssey of
self-discovery for me, I guess," he says. Ramey was a
35-year-old father of three in the process of a difficult
divorce from his wife of 16 years when he decided it was time
to fully embrace his own sexual orientation, which he says
he never denied: "I was married. To a woman. I was in
a committed relationship. But I knew inside I was a gay man."
About that time, he found himself entrusted with marketing
to the gay and lesbian contingent. But when asked, he admits
his coming out relatively late in life perhaps "sparked
me in ways that nothing else had previously. Certainly arriving
at the party a little late gave me a little more time to anticipate
what I would do at the party once I got there."
"It was epiphany for me in that year of finding myself
and then being propelled into a world that I had no concept
of. I was incredibly fortunate to have the kinds of opportunities
arise when they did. It's sort of been a right place, right
time, e-ticket ride, if you will," says Ramey. "To
be able to wake up every morning and be passionately excited
about what I get to do that day, I believe is a very rare
gift."
He is very proud to point out that Anheuser-Busch has been
the sponsor of GLBT pride festivals across the country for
20-plus years, the presenting sponsor of the IGRA Rodeo Circuit
for seven years and in general has a very long history of
doing "the right thing" within and for the GLBT
community. During that time, Bud Light's funding of more than
$1,000,000 has been instrumental in the growth of gay rodeo.
Ramey also definitely believes that Anheuser-Busch's long-standing
commitment to the gay community has an effect on consumers'
purchasing habits even in an arena as crowded as the beer
market. "I think it boils down to really being who we
are. And focusing on just what we stand for. We continue to
put our name out there in a relevant fashion in the gay community
so that when people go to an event that Bud Light is part
of or a sponsor of, people see that Bud Light is a part of
that experience and is a very open and honest supporter of
the gay community."
The Anheuser-Busch company slogan is "Making friends
is our business." And no one exemplifies that spirit
more than our friend, James Ramey.
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