Out In the Workplace
People in the LGBT community have many worries as to where they will be accepted and in which situations they can express their sexuality. The workplace is one of the biggest concerns for lesbians, gays and bis, since people must constantly impress bosses and deal with inter-office politics. Coming out, or being out, in the workplace is a very challenging ordeal, as those of us that identify as LGBT individuals know well. Coming out can relieve some of the stress of hiding our identity and having to watch our mannerisms. However, the fear of discrimination and the possibility of loosing our jobs may keep many working people in the closet.
Questions to Consider
There are many questions we must consider before coming out at work. We must see if our employer has a written nondiscrimination policy, and if that policy covers sexual orientation and gender identities. Does health insurance cover domestic partners or transitioning costs for transgender individuals? Is there a LGBT employee resource group at our workplace and is the general climate of our workplace LGBT friendly? We tend to notice if any of our coworkers use derogatory comments towards LGBT individuals, or if any coworkers themselves are openly lesbian, gay or bi. It is wise to check government sources such as state or local laws to see if our work area has non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. These questions can help us assess how much risk would be involved in coming out at any company in any state or country.
Finding Support
Once we have assessed the place of business we can move foreword. It is wise to start by trying to identify someone else who is either gay/lesbian or LGBT-supportive and talk to them first. We recommend talking calmly and taking deep breaths, because the more calmly a person talks to others the more calm they will feel. Plan a strategy and look up tools for coming out or transitioning at work. Strike up conversations about news stories, movies or television shows that have LGBT issues as a way to transition into a conversation about your own sexuality. By bringing a partner or date to a work function or having them meet an individual at work, we can introduce our sexuality more visually to some of the coworkers. By doing this, coworkers can hopefully see that homosexual or bisexual relationships are quite similar to those of heterosexuals.
Benefits of Being Out at Work
There are many benefits to being out at work. It eliminates the need to hide or mislead others when it comes to questions about ones personal life. Coming out can help to break down barriers, build stronger friendships, and build trusting work relationships. Leading others to understanding more about the LGBT community can also be a benefit. No longer having to hide a large part of ones life allows people to bring their whole selves to work and makes them more productive. Every person must weigh the possible repercussions and benefits he or she will receive by coming out at work, then decide if and when it would be wise to be open about a LGBT identity.