By Suzanne Ford –
Last June, I met a wonderful longtime member of our community, Tom LeNoble. I have been fascinated with his story of resilience ever since that first meeting. I instantly realized this is a special person! Well, it turns out all of us can now read about his amazing life’s journey. His autobiography, My Life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns, and High Heels: In Control, Being Controlled, Out of Control!, is available now. Tom has lived a big life and I wanted to share the interview here in the San Francisco Bay Times.
Suzanne Ford: Where were you born?
Tom LeNoble: Jacksonville Beach, Florida.
Suzanne Ford: When did you know that you were gay?
Tom LeNoble: I knew I was different at age 5. Not sure I understood it, but I definitely felt different.
Suzanne Ford: When and where was your first drag performance?
Tom LeNoble: At the Melody Club in Gainesville, Florida, in the 1970s.
Suzanne Ford: Do you miss doing drag?
Tom LeNoble: I miss the stage and being a performer.
Suzanne Ford: How did your business career begin?
Tom LeNoble: I first managed a lab at a psychiatric hospital in Gainesville, Florida. I then began working at MCI, in the long-distance field.
Suzanne Ford: I want to hear about your most famous job interview. What was it like interviewing with Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook?
Tom LeNoble: Mark was 19 years old. He had shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals on. He asked if I would sit down with him on the sofa. We had a lovely conversation! I was hired when there were about 30 people in the building. I was by far the oldest person at Facebook at the time. I am very proud of my time at Facebook. When I first came into the organization, I was like: What have I done? There are no offices, and where are the phones?!
Suzanne Ford: What was that like socially?
Tom LeNoble: That generation loved their parents. I was about the same age as many of their parents. So, in many ways it was wonderful. However, they tended to hide things from me as they would have from their own parents.
Suzanne Ford: Was your sexuality an issue at the time?
Tom LeNoble: No, it really never was addressed. Being gay was never discussed.
Suzanne Ford: What has been your proudest business career achievement?
Tom LeNoble: I really am proud of creating and running my own consulting business. I am able to bring all my talents to the table and really help people.
Suzanne Ford: I know you are a longtime HIV survivor. When were you diagnosed?
Tom LeNoble: I was diagnosed with HIV with full-blown AIDS in 1989. I have lived with it for 36 years. I have also lived with metastatic cancer for the last 13 years.
Suzanne Ford: Tell me about writing your autobiography. When did you begin writing it?
Tom LeNoble: I began writing 16 years ago. Then 7 years ago I had to decide whether to walk away from the process or run with it. I decided to run! Now, as of November 4, it is available on Amazon.
Suzanne Ford: What do you hope defines your legacy?
Tom LeNoble: My philanthropy. It should not be about me, but rather about giving.
Suzanne Ford: What should young LGBTQIA people learn from you and your generation?
Tom LeNoble: That you win by coming together. Fracturing in our community impedes our ability to respond to the current political environment that we face. If you give, you get back more. In fact, small compromises can produce bigger gains!
For more information about Tom LeNoble, including his new autobiography and other books, visit: https://www.tomlenoble.com/
Suzanne Ford is the Executive Director of San Francisco Pride. She was recently named to the 2025 OUT100 List of the world’s most influential LGBTQ+ individuals.
Published on November 6, 2025
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