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June 25, 2026

Pride Month: What it means to make someone feel seen

Growing up, Harry Crawford Jr. often felt misunderstood, judged or mishandled by the world around him. As a gay man navigating spaces that didn’t always feel welcoming, he learned early what it meant to move through environments where being fully seen wasn’t guaranteed. 

Today, as a Philadelphia-based flight attendant, that perspective shapes how he shows up in every interaction — with his crew, with his customers and in the small moments that define the experience on board. 

What he once lacked, he now makes a point to give. 

How has your own experience shaped the way you approach people? 

“I know what it feels like to be misunderstood,” Harry said. “So, I try to meet people where they are.” 

For Harry, it’s about understanding how to hold space in addition to showing up for people, especially in the small, everyday moments. 

“I’ve learned that sometimes people don’t need you to fix anything. They just need to feel heard,” he said. 

“What made a difference for me were the people who created environments where I felt respected, valued and welcomed,” he said. “That underscored for me how important it is to do that for others.” 

“Positivity. Authenticity. No judgment,” he said. “That’s what people respond to.” 

What does showing up that way look like for you at work? 

“I don’t look at this as just a job,” Harry said. “I look at it as service.”  

In his role, that means interacting with people from all walks of life, sometimes in the moments they’re not at their best. 

“I had a passenger recently who was clearly having a rough day,” he said. “You could feel it.” 

Instead of pushing through the interaction, Harry slowed it down. 

“I made a light, kind-hearted comment, just tried to connect,” he said. 

A few minutes later, when I had to ask the passenger to stow their bag, they smiled. 

“I believe making people feel seen, heard and respected matters,” he said. “Sometimes that’s just a kind interaction — giving someone space to be where they are.” 

Can you share a moment in the cabin that’s stayed with you? 

“My grandparents raised me in a way that always put service first,” he said. “They were the type of people who showed up for everyone — and I carry that with me. 

“I think that’s why I have a soft spot for my older customers,” he said. “They remind me of my grandparents.” 

On a recent flight, that showed up in a simple but meaningful way. 

“There was an older gentleman who needed help getting to the lavatory,” he said. “Those doors can be tricky, so I walked him there and waited nearby.”

When the customer returned to his seat, he paused before sitting down. 

“He looked at me and said, ‘Harry, you’re a good guy. I appreciate that,’” he said. 

Moments like that stay with him. 

How do you adjust how you show up for different people? 

“I try to read the cabin,” Harry said. 

That awareness wasn’t automatic; it was developed over time as he worked through his own experiences. Harry is the author of I Found My Voice: Discovering and Embracing My Identity, a personal reflection on his journey navigating identity, acceptance and growth. Writing it required him to revisit moments where he felt misunderstood — and to make sense of them. 

“A big part of writing my book was learning how to forgive people who treated me differently,” he said. “That wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.” 

That process reshaped how he sees others. 

“I don’t assume anymore,” he said. “I pay attention first.” 

In the cabin, that means adjusting in real time, knowing when to engage, when to give grace and how to avoid misreading a situation. 

“It’s giving people room to be who they are,” he said. “And responding to that the right way.”