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For those who have been in the workforce ...

Discussion in 'LGBT Later in Life' started by Tightrope, Jun 2, 2013.

  1. Tightrope

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    ... have you been subject to discrimination, harassment, or a general atmosphere that made work uncomfortable for you?

    I think this is more applicable to those who have worked for at least 10 years after their schooling, but it can apply to anyone. I'm sure teenagers can be mean, too. However, I was never mistreated in any of the jobs I held as a teen.

    It has happened to me as an adult. It resulted in having to change jobs. I was not dismissed, but I had to begin working at finding another job. The situations were not pleasant at all. Basically, I was very private and did not interact with my coworkers as much as I was supposed to - whatever that was. I limited it to going to lunch, for the most part, which I gladly did.

    It's situations like this that cause people to remain silent and discreet about their personal lives.
     
  2. arturoenrico

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    I'm not out at work. I work in a middle school. My Principal is a lesbian who is out and married to another woman; she was formerly married to a man and has three kids. Nobody says anything derogatory ever about her sexuality; In fact, I think she is given ground sometimes by the higher up administration because they don't wont to be accused of discriminating against her. Some of the kids in the school have made comments, but they are shut down almost immediately. "Ms. M.'s personal life is private, not subject to any discussion by students." There is a 9th grade girl who identifies herself as lesbian, who adores the principal and constantly seeks her out. So, I think it would probably be ok if I came out but not ready to do so.
     
  3. Dublin Boy

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    I was Discriminated against because of my Dyslexia :frowning2:
     
  4. Tightrope

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    Interesting. Sometimes, I think it depends on the industry, the geographic area, the people involved, and the culture. For some reason, the "system" is harder on men. At least from what I can determine.

    In my situation, it was NOTHING that prompted this. It's just that I was very private and kept things at arms length. Also, like I mentioned in another post, I think they thought they had hired "someone else," and then not ever being married, not currently dating, taking my vacations by myself, and not doing the golf/drinking thing is what kicked it into high gear. Even though this was in cities in reasonably progressive areas, the culture of these particular outfits was very different from mine, even though I looked the part when hired. I can't help that part, that I look the part. Very stressful and depressing, to say the least.

    ---------- Post added 2nd Jun 2013 at 12:32 PM ----------

    I'm sorry to hear of that. A friend of mine in college also reported that he had a tough time in high school because of dyslexia, but he was able to do well in higher studies and got himself a job. I had no idea he had dyslexia. I've often wondered how it is diagnosed and if it's something they become aware of in the school system.
     
    #4 Tightrope, Jun 2, 2013
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2013
  5. arturoenrico

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    Don't now how old you are, Dublin Boy, but I've been working with learning disabled kids, some with dyslexia, since the early 80s. Some really famous people, as I'm sure you know now, have been dyslexic. The old way if working with these kids was to humiliate and shame them. We're more enlightened now, hopefully. One of my friends is a reading specialist and she can work malice with kids, if she can start with them when they're young.

    ---------- Post added 3rd Jun 2013 at 05:53 AM ----------

    MAGIC not malice. Stupid iPad autocorrects sometimes.
     
  6. biAnnika

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    I have not had issues. I have been at my workplace since 2000, and have made no secret that my partner is female (she comes to events, dinners, etc.) with me, as do partners of other LGBT people here.

    BUT, I work at a university, and my colleagues are a liberal, educated bunch...more importantly, they know how uncool it would be to *look* like they're not ok with LGBT issues. So even if people have some degree of distaste, they keep it to themselves. There are a few who are genuinely hateful...but *everyone* knows who they are, and tunes them out when they spout off...and they have no real political power here. Our LGBT students describe the environment a bit differently...but I find this a very hospitable workplace for LGBT faculty and staff...a very positive change from the *rest* of the town, which can be quite sheltered (well, we just don't *know* any gay people) and/or bigoted.

    Now when I generally spend my sabbatical leaves working in industry...and that's a little different. But as a result I am less out during those times...in general, since I'm only there for a year, I'm not as socially invested, so I am less out (call me a coward, maybe, but there's just not much opportunity in a single year to let your sexuality be known broadly). In my last sabbatical position I was out to my supervisor and 2 people on my team by the end of the year. It could have been more (and I am resolved to be more out this time around)...but I definitely would have seen some negative reactions had I been generally out.
     
  7. MixedNutz

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    I've been at my job for almost 4 years now, Im not out though so discrimination hasn't been an issue. However I had one coworker that used slurs toward Latinos and Blacks, but he was fired. My boss uses the word "fag" a lot though.

    There was recently an issue where the owner told the 3 Latino HR girls they couldn't speak Spanish in the offices anymore. There was a lot of back lash against that, so I took the opportunity to give my opinion to my Boss.

    "I hope Mike (the owner) knows that him telling the HR girls that they can't speak Spanish is highly illegal. The things I hear people say around here is going to end up in a discrimination or sexual harassment law suit. The way Kevin (old coworker) used racial slurs was unacceptable. Personally I feel that everyone is entitled to their opinions, however the moment someone uses the N word or fag or anything like that in the work place, they should be fired, they are completely unprofessional and obviously to intolerant and way to ignorant for this company."

    He cut down on the word fag a lot after that. However it's picking back up. :rolle:
     
  8. Phoenix

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    I can't believe he said that to them. We have Spanish speaking employees where I work and some past managers have tried to get them to stop because they thought they were trash talking (insert eye roll here); but our district manager said they are not allowed to tell someone they can't speak a different language in the workplace.

    I've never had a problem with discrimination in the workplace; however I believe in my state it's illegal to discriminate based on sexuality in both the public and private sectors statewide.
     
  9. Tightrope

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    Yes, I could see this. I've seen that those (some of my friends) who work in higher education, the library system, public health and government work with a much more diverse crowd and, while people may still talk and even disagree, it generally doesn't impact job security and promotions.

    Universities are funny places. While the faculties and staffs might be more liberal thinkers, there could indeed be discrimination among the students. In a fairly reputed school, I heard another student scoff at two guys in our department who were friends and refer to them as "butt pirates," which I'd never heard before but didn't need to have it defined to figure it out.

    In this regard, smaller companies and organizations in private industry can be tough. And sometimes concrete evidence isn't even needed. Merely suspecting is enough to put the gears in motion for sub-par treatment. And it really makes it hard to focus and to want to be a contributor to an organization when, as adults, basic respect isn't even shown.
     
  10. Gaysibling

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    in my early days in the work force homophobic comments were rife. They were not aimed at me specifically ( was not out and did not particularly fit the very stereotyped views prevalent back then) , and they seemed to be both accepted and expected. In particular, in 1986 when the law reform bill which decriminalised consensual gay sex between adults was passed there was a lot of pressure put on people to sign a petition against the bill and a lot of slurs about gay men. Although I was not out I absolutely refused to sign the petition and caught a lot of flak for that ( although I don't think my colleagues actually realised that I was gay) .


    Thankfully times have changed. In the last 20 years I have not heard any such comments and would not tolerate them if I did. Unlike many countries we have strong legal protection here, but equally importantly, society has changed. If someone made a homophobic comment at my workplace I think at least half a dozen straight people would very quickly put the person back in line , I wouldn't actually need to say anything ( although you can bet that I certainly would say something).