5 Comments

Prejudice still exists and I think it depends on what you work at all though it shouldn’t.  I don’t feel I should have to make an announcement or wear my sexuality on my sleeve.  I have worked in a job with my girlfriend and everyone just ‘knew’ and I have worked with someone who I told and I thought was a friend.  Bad mistake it just ended in plently of talk about how two sockets cant work together and we all need a plug.  Needless to say we are no longer friends and I dont work there anymore.  Sometimes people still get freaked out and think you are going to attack them in the locker room.  I say pick your time and test the water with someone you can trust then see if you are working with sharks.
mel said:
Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 4:59 pm

I was out in my last job and one of the negative parts of changing jobs was having to do it all over again.
I am now out in my current job too but it took me a while to get the oppertunities to say it as I am not in a relationship so I can’t say things like “my girlfriend and I” or whatever.
I am glad I am out but it can be tough to do
Gooner said:
Wed, Aug 25, 2010 at 5:58 pm

Mel, I had a similat experience with a guy I used to work with. He was a gay man as well so I felt particularly affronted by his tone and persistent questioning of my sexuality in the office and within earshot of other colleagues.
I was out in my last job but I never made one specific declaration per se. I just didn’t filter my answers when asked about my weekends or if I was seeing someone, e.g. when asked about my weekend, I’d mention that I saw a couple of films at the Gaze festival or marched in the Pride parade over the weekend. I kind of presumed everyone knew already and that made it easier for me and for my collegues too I think because they were free to move onto another topic, or ask further questions.
I’ve mostly been lucky in the places where I’ve worked in that they’ve almost always been very accepting and open-minded environments. That said, the last workplace was the most tolerant I’ve ever worked in but during the first week two collegues did make homophobic jokes in front of me. Those employees didn’t stay on long and it wasn’t just me who was irked, Others found it offensive too.
orange said:
Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 8:58 pm

I’ve always been out at work, until I took my current job.   I work with some of the most bigoted cretins I’ve ever met.  It’s chilling.  But even the most toned-down, head-down version of me imaginable is apparently pretty shocking in the small office that time forgot.  The less I talk to my colleagues, the fewer opportunities they have to offend me.  I’m trying hard to escape but there aren’t lots of options out there these days!
okitty said:
Fri, Sep 3, 2010 at 8:46 pm

It’s easy for me to be out at work in my current job as it’s a youth focused and youth staffed pretty progressive workplace – I don’t know how that will pan out in the future when I change jobs.
Slayer said:
Tue, Sep 7, 2010 at 5:14 pm

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