Name: Joe Husman
Place of Birth: Cincinnati, OH
Occupation: Corporate Planning
Employer: Toyota Motor Sales, USA
Year, Make and Model of your first car/truck:
1971 VW Superbeetle, Shantung Yellow, my gay uncle drove it up from Florida and gave it to me and my sister…..I later passed it down to my younger brother when I bought a 1973 VW Superbeetle Convertible, bright orange. Later I gave that to my younger sister so that we all started out driving Beetles.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A Paramedic so I could drive an ambulance and pass everyone else on the streets.
How long have you worked in the auto industry?
19 years
What do you drive now?
Titanium Toyota FJ Cruiser, I also own a black 1994 BMW 530, a black 1986 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, and I just bought a rusty 1962 Series 62 Cadillac Convertible.
Are you out at work?
Yes
Was being gay ever an issue at any of your jobs?
I wasn’t out when I worked at Ford Motor Company because I didn’t have any role models (years later I was thrilled to hear that Allan Gilmour came out). I was out with no negative repurcusions at Nissan, and now at Toyota. Toyota was actually the first company I’ve ever joined that had sexual orientation in the their non-discrimination clause, so I was happy and relieved when I read that on my first day at Toyota.
If so, how did you deal with it?
I just kept my personal life private when I worked at Ford. Looking back on it, I’m sure it would have been better for me to be more open and honest. As a matter of fact, I was one of the founding members of the business partnering group Toyota Gay and Lesbian (Bisexual, Transgender & Friends) Alliance (GALA), so I’ve come a long way since then
If you had one piece of advice to give to a gay person wanting to work in the auto industry, what would it be?
Pick a company where you are passionate about their products and where you can be proud of how they treat their employees, dealers, and suppliers.
Ok, here is the fun part; if you had $25,000 and had to buy a new car, what would it be and why?
I already have it, the Toyota FJ Cruiser.
Same question but bigger budget – $50,000:
TCan I buy a used Porsche 911 turbo for that?
If money was no object and you had to drive it every day:
Toyota Landcruiser during the week and Lexus SC430 on the weekends.
What is your favorite car of all time and why?
Bobby Ewing’s Mercedes 450 Convertible on Dallas. It was so good they used the same car on Hart to Hart. Any car that is good enough for Patrick Duffy is good enough for me.
If your car/truck could talk, what would it say about you?
It would tell me: “Put down your cell phone and drive.”