heidim1 writes

When I first started lecturing at a certain university, I was told by my (obviously gay) dean that I had to keep my personal life totally out of the faculty (and all the other lecturers had all their family photos up on their office walls, and their partners were welcome to visit anytime, so I knew what she ment). This was one of the reasons (not stated but there) that I resigned and went to work for a pharmacy group who are encourageing me to be out and proud

NaeNae07 writes

Working in the government area i do i work with mainly males. Most of them are great but one guy decided he would give me a bit of trouble. Not only with my sexuality but my looks too.......needless to say he isnt working there anymore :-)

Keira2 writes

I worked for a company in Brisbane, where I met my partner about 7 yrs ago. They were very homophobic. They knew my partenr was gay, but it was just before I came out. When my boss found out that we were together (she had left to work for another company by then), he told me that if I didn't write my letter of resignation he would sack me on the spot without pay. Needless to say I couldn't be bothered with his $%&* and told him where he could stick his job. I started at my new employment 2 days later and never looked back. We have never had a problem since. We both hold good positions in our jobs and have the most respect from our collegues. Who's smiling now!!?? :)

The sad thing is that there is always going to be people like that out there. We just need to rise above it.

Miss_bluesky writes

Not that this is enirely the same thing, but me and my gf, being poor college types, used to work at a Mcdonald's drive-thru. Eventually, the rest of the staff just referred to us as 'the lesbians' and constantly mixed up our names. It wasn't malicious and I personally found it really funny.
Then there was the manager who said, on finding out another of my collegues was gay:
"John's gay? But he's a nice lad!"

Felinity writes

I have my own retail outlet, and I set it up with my partner as my co-director. You might think that we don't face homophobia, and generally speaking we really don't. But there were these two isolated episodes:

Someone who fell out with me about something that had nothing to do with homophobia (a bisexual woman) threatened to send two women to my shop and then go immediately to police and report me for sexual harrassment. I went to the police immediately and asked them to make a note, which they did. It was the girl's sister who told me this, had she not done this the police confirmed I could have been put out of business on the say so of two supposedly separate individuals.

Less seriously, the chairman of my chamber of commerce has been going around telling everyone that she doesn't want to be seen socialising with me for fear she will be tarred with the same brush and that people will think she is a lesbian.

So wherever you are working in the pecking order, homophobia can cr

procyonmama writes

I am looking for a support group of women in non traditional jobs. I'm in construction {journey-WOMAN} I am currently dealing with the loss of my job. Spent 20 years self employed- but caved in for health benefits.Any one dealing with insecure, incompetent,psyco managers please post! This one isn't the first, just the latest. I put up with the abuse because I thought it would be better for those to follow, It's 2006, and not much has changed in the US.
There's nothing I've found on the internet for support. I am desperate for a support network.If you are secure in a construction
career, please let me know how you deal with it!!

cuz_i_am writes

recently a bulletin board was posted at my place of employment. It was an informative collection on homosexuality facts. Example one person in ten in Ontario is gay, lesbian or bisexual...some are "in the closet-some are out"..etc. It talked about harrassment and had some positive points. However the same bulletin board then went on to give information on various mental illnesses. Was this just ill-placed information or what? Anyhow I work in a very large government building but I have every intention of finding out where and who is responsible for the plainly visible mixed messages.

Pepe writes

I'm being bullied at work by a homophobic manager and I'm really depressed about it. If a person in power has a personal vendetta they can make life very difficult for you.

fixxy writes

Im the boss at my work and gays are well enough represented. However, even though I am out and have a strong character everyone and their grandmother feels they are entitled to voice an opinion on our sexuality.
Ive had staff say to me "oh it doesn't matter that your gay" Well it does to me!
"I dont mind gay people" well, gosh thanks for that. What a releif, Im so grateful.
"Some people are obviously gay, but you cant tell your gay, if you hadn't told me I would have had no idea." They actually expect me to be flattered by this.
Well folks, cos Im the boss I felt confident enough to point out that the silly comments should stop.

A lot of folks just don't get it. If all the gay folk went to work and started saying things like: "I thought you were straight, you wear so much make up". "My brother is straight, I have him and his wife around all the time". "I would never guess you were straight, you dont have kids"

Anyhoo, just fancied a bit of a rant.

ValerieAnn writes

The company I work for is VERY strict on any sort of harassment. I'm not exactly 'out' but I don't hide either. I just don't see the need to hold press conferences about it.

My favorite co-worker, who sits at the cubicle beside me, looked up to the TV set and saw 2 men about to kiss, and he started getting very upset, like, "Oh, man! I don't wanna' see that! That makes me sick!" while he turned away and made a face.

I told him later, 'You know, we do have homosexual co-workers, and if anyone heard you they would have had good cause to see HR'... So he thanked me & was all embarassed.

That was months ago. In the meantime, he would make comments to me like, 'This customer called to say that neither he NOR HIS HUSBAND got their bill yet.' Finally I had pity on him and came out to him, telling him that I am not shocked or appalled by the things he tells me, and asking him if he ever once thought that a lesbian might have been sitting beside him for almost a year.

BOY

nottmchica writes

At my last job everyone was dicussing Elton Johns wedding in the staffroom . As soon as an openly gay man left the room, they all started saying how "sick" it was, that it was "against the bible" and it was "just wrong"!(I wasn't out at that time) I said if god had made us, how can being gay be wrong? To which a girl replied " God didn't make gay people, the devil did"........

It made me soooooo mad!

greenchili writes

I have not faced any discrimination at work. My company is small but gays/lesbians are well represented, and the company is very serious about harrassment. I am treated no differently than any other employee.

elly_sium writes

yes more here in las vegas than in chicago or california ..

tigerdevil writes

I am really lucky,I have faced no discrimination in my work,I work in Justice System.I am openly Gay and nobody has treated me any different,it probably helps that some boss are Lesbians as well, but in my unit I have only found support and nothing but, so I feel really lucky and proud to be a Lesbian.

Pennysparkles writes

I was seriously impressed, when recently someone made homophobic comments at work and all of the people that report to me complained to the persons manager.

That told me that not only do they repsect me for who I am, but I've taken on some of the best people in the workforce. I felt really proud of them :)

MistyMorning79 writes

I've never faced discrimination at work because I'm not out at work. I wouldn't lie if someone asked me, though. I was actually wondering if anyone out there has any tales to tell regarding bringing a partner to staff parties etc. In the hospital that I work at there's a lot of group social outings and everyone always brings their wives/husbands. I don't know what kind of hell would break loose if I took a woman with me. Has anyone out there ever taken their partner to a work function. Honestly, I can take the questions and one on one conversations that would pop up from the people at work that I'm closest to, but I'm really worried about the overall behaviour toward me.

I work with several gay men and the jokes and things that are said behind their backs are atrocious. I've been known to tell people off for their unkind comments. One of my colleagues lost his partner to AIDS and someone made a shitty remark. I told that person that they should learn to have a little comp

Akasha writes

no i have'nt had discrimination thrown in my face at work. i choose not to tell my co- workers because i believe that your private life is just that PRIVATE, not part of the work force. we are employed to work and not to discuss sexual preferences.
whether were straight, gay, bi, trany. who cares, its our individual choice, not others especially those who we work with.
life with work, life with our sexual preferences, is our own choice not for personal
discussion by anyone to judge, least of all a person from work.