LGBTQ+ employees share the discrimination they encounter at work

We spend most of our time at work, but work is limited and can prevent us from expressing our true identity, such as what we wear, how we speak, and our interactions. ..

However, discrimination can occur in some cases.

It shouldn’t happen, and it still does, leading to increased self-control and discomfort at work.

According to a new study from The Body Shop launching the WorkinPride Charter on behalf of hard-working employees, 35% of the 2,000 people in the LGBTQ+ community are afraid of being fired or rejected, and 30% know or have experienced it. . who. Bullying at work based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

As a result, 56% have different behaviors in work and personal life to avoid discrimination, and 49% dress differently to fit in. More than a third go further than hiding gender identity and sexuality on services.

It is shocking that one in four people is closed for harassment.

Keane Spenle, who uses them/their pronouns, has been discriminated against in the workplace many times.

“Unfortunately, I’ve experienced widespread discrimination in every role I’ve played in my career. I’m only 23 years old,” says Keane.

“I had an employee, a ruthless mockery, and I immediately quit my job for fear of safety.

“Daily microaggression is also a form of discrimination.

The titles “Dramatic”, “Camp” and “Diva” are unacceptable in a professional setting.

This experience “shattered” their self-confidence. Especially since they spent a lot of time “figuring out and getting comfortable” with their identities outside of work.

Keane now feels like a “competent and successful nonverbal individual,” but these cases look like failures.

“I felt like I was secondary or mentioned only when I was doing LGBTQI+ clichés,” they added.

“In my previous job, to protect myself, I worked on my identity as an editor and protected my part, which is truly genuine.

It includes not only clothes but also natural manners.

“I didn’t like it, and it made me more determined to find a fully accepted and secure job.”

Karina, a 26-year-old black lesbian and high school teacher, had a similar experience.

He states: “I suffered discrimination at work.

“We hear about the LGBTQ+ community, derogatory and highly insulting comments.

This made me feel like I had to leave these co-workers and also hide my sexuality.

“Then some of my male colleagues stepped up commenting that I was somehow teaching students and said, ‘Lesbians shouldn’t be teachers.’

Other comments included “I thought there were more bushes,” “I thought my hair was short,” and “Oh I’m playing soccer, I’m sure I’m playing a lot.”

This experience isolated him at work and was compounded by the fact that he lived in a boarding house with these other employees.

At a career level, such feelings can hamper someone’s professional growth, as well as loss of money, status and advancement.

In the end, going to work became a “struggle” for Carina, who developed an unhealthy coping mechanism.

“I started creating this character, but it wasn’t real to me and I was trying to design it for the people I work with,” he explains.

“I shouldn’t have done that because I felt like my sexuality was wrong. I really started questioning myself.”

“Unlike now, I am very comfortable with who I really am and I am sorry that I worked with a colleague who has such a narrow perspective. As a teacher, I am sorry. I am concerned that such people are in my profession and are trying to raise the next generation.

Now he has moved on to another educational job and feels accepted there.

Karina took a long time to “go out” with her colleagues because “a terrible comment caught her” in her last job.

This left him scared and anxious as he was openly gay at work. He earlier hid his plans to see other information about his partner and his sexuality.

For him, fortunately it is a thing of the past.

Homosexuality in the workplace is still something that some workers face on a daily basis.

Ariane, a 34-year-old non-speaking Filipino immigrant, initially did not understand the abuse of the “vendors” who were shot because English was not her primary language.

They say: “One of the main reasons I experience discrimination in the way I work is mainly because of the way I express myself.

“I use it very boldly, especially since I’m mostly a woman now.

“When you want to blend in with him, there’s a very unique way a person sees others.

“This often happens when I visit the office, but with the involvement of a former manager, I feel even more helpless and alone.”

Eventually, they “took back” the derogatory comments and “tried to turn it into a joke” in order to regain power.

Arian refuses to hide and even the interviews reveal who they are.

“I consider my identity to be an asset and a strength, which I never hide,” they added.

“I really want to tell other confident people who are struggling what I can do. If they get big, the target may be behind them and they will be even more discriminated against in the workplace. I’ll take care of that.”

Even after the full month of pride has begun, it’s clear that LGBTQ+ employees need to create jobs to ensure they are safe and free from discrimination.

You can read the work of Pride Charter Body Shop here.

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