Are you OUT at work?

[Princess]

I am out at work, although I wasn't for the first 2 years that I worked there. You just never know with people in kansas...well people anywhere really. I got tired of hiding it though and just kinda jumped out. Turned out everyone was really accepting and now the guys at work constantly crack jokes with me, I love it.

[TWolf]

I'm completely out at work... though I'm butch enough to trigger even the faultest gardar... totally funny when my last manager would get flustered everytime he'd call me "sir".... I work in a very accepting environment though... my computer has a pic collage of my gal, her son, and my son proudly displayed... and we attend company events as a couple...

[Just_G]

For me, the question is when am I NOT out, ANYWHERE I go?

I just started a new job at a huge engineering firm....I am positive that not one person that has seen me come and go from the building thinks I am straight.

Even though I didn't have to "come out" at work, there is still an awkward uneasiness around all of my female co-workers....not on my part though. I try to make conversation, but they just kind of turn and walk away. They don't make eye contact, and when it is time for a meeting that I don't know about, they leave me sitting in my cubicle and send one of the guys to get me.

I can honestly say that some days I wish I blended in and could go on about my business without the awkwardness. That will never happen with me.

It's funny, there is another thread on BFP about femmes having to come out all the time and how they are not noticed, and most of the time, I so wish I was NOT noticed so easily. It's like when you have straight hair and want curly hair or vice versa...lol

[genghisfawn]

I don't come out at a new job until I have firm friends. Right now I'm contracted to another company, working full-time on their site. When someone asks me if I'm seeing anyone or married or something, I respond with a subtle, "Eventually!" and a smile.

However, I had lunch with another division's manager when I first started with my company and it came up that I'd been engaged. She said at one point after that, "Don't be offended, but are you a lesbian?"

I was FLOORED. Not because she asked, because I don't really care, but that she actually read me as gay! Could it have been the sweatervest and blouse combo over no-nonsense trousers and shoes? I just said, "Yes... why, do I, you know, look gay or something?"

She said, "No, not at all. I have a sixth sense for these things."

She and I are totally friends and we're totally going shopping this week.

[apretty]

Yes, as I'm asked about my personal life I always correct the inevitable presumed heterosexuality--I don't offer personal information generally because it doesn't pertain to the job (and as I have a supervisory position I like a little distance), but I will share bits of who I am, as appropriate.

[Novelafemme]

Like, apretty, I am out at work (and everywhere) but I keep my personal life private as much as I can. At one point I had several coworkers as friends on facebook but I found it very awkward when they knew about my active social life outside of work and would comment on what I did over the weekend. I am a total contradiction when it comes to my privacy, lol. So, I "unfriended" them on facebook and keep my friend list to only those I know pretty darned well (and family).

I have pictures of Katy and I up in my office, as well as pics of my girls and other friends and family, and sometimes new people stop by my office and I catch them looking at the photos and then looking at me as the little light bulb goes off in their brains.

[SaltyButch]

I am totally out at work and have been in all the places that I have worked as an adult. It is not something that happens on the first day you walk in but after you have been able to gauge people's responses. I have been fortunate enough that my peers accept me and in fact have been educated to some degree because I am open to discussing most anything they may be wondering about.

[The JD]

I'm out at work. I just posted a pic of me at work- it's kind of obvious, I think...heh. But I've also addressed it with my coworkers at first indirectly, by not pretending to be single if I'm not and using the correct pronouns (and first name) when referring to my girlfriend... but also directly- once some see that I'm comfortable with it, they get comfortable enough to ask more.

The strangest example of this is the 60 year old coworker who said to me, "I heard a DJ using this word on the radio this morning, and I think it might be a gay thing. What's a 'carpet muncher'?"

After I spit my coffee out and got my laughter under control, I told her.

[Lady Pamela]

It would be extremely hard for me to do that considering my clientell are my own...My other job is also child based and probably about 200 to 300 children each event. Ha!

But in years before now at work..Yes I was also out when in medical field positions.

But should someone ask..Sure I would most definately tell them the truth..Like one on my client I have a session with.

.

[cinnamongrrl]

No.... I work for an uber christian....I try not to discuss religion and politics with clients anyhow...but it DOES give me a tickle being on BFP while I'm at work....I'm just naughty like that

[SleepyButch]

I am totally out at work and I love it!

[Breathless]

Kind of.. I work outside .. sort of.. JK.. Absolutely.. I could only be more out if I was flying a flag behind the car around town doing pickups. .

[Greco]

Yes, always.

Greco

[Duchess]

Absolutely

[GreeneyedMe]

Yes, I am out....everywhere. Work is especially comfortable and tolerant...my company even offered partner benefits many years before marriage was legalized in NY. Nice place to be.

[easygoingfemme]

Yes.
I am self employed so it's a different kind of out. I keep a rainbow flag visible in my office for clients to see easily. I keep LGBTQ safe and open statements on my website along with the types of clients I specialize in. Lots of people don't pick up on it but those who do appreciate it.

[BstlMyhart]

I've never been "in" anywhere...I've always just been me. I have rarely run into any issues about my obvious sexual orientation. And they were someone else's issues...not mine. Everyone from the Director to the inmates knows. We have anti discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and we do have domestic partner benefits. I'm just "Lt." one of the "brothers in uniform". They know when things go back, I have their back and I know they have mine. It's been proven time and again. There have been a few occassions when an inmate will "go off" and call me every derrogatory name in the book. I've had to hold back a fellow officer because THEY took greater offense than I did. I knew the inmate WANTED to hurt me, and I would not allow them that satisfaction. My partners however were pissed. I think if I were hetero...THAT would be an issue...no one in my life anywhere would consider that normal. lol

Also, being who I am and having my rank, I've recently had a few new officers, and now a few cadets going through our academy, telling me they know they can be themselves and will be able to advance in this career and in our facility. They have no fear that their sexual orientation will hold them back. I see their self confidence rising to the surface as oppose to their body language showing they fear they have to hide part of themselves to be accepted as a fellow officer, which is something I saw with a few officers when I first started. Those officers are no longer with us though I can't speculate that this was the reason they left...did they feel like outcasts and ostracized? I can't answer that. I do know that I see a new self awareness, pride, and self confidence in those joining our ranks now. And it makes me proud that where I work...it's all about the work and one's ability to carry out their missions. It's not about who you date and sleep with. The world really has evolved.

[jac]

out and about here on the job. this is a safe zone. diversity is an absolute in an adolescent homeless shelter. it helps to have openly gay staff, makes things wicked easy and comfortable for the kids that come in off the streets to have acceptance and staff to relate with. I could not have asked for a better place to do my internship and then get hired on in my field. blessed!

[twinkletoes]

Well I'm not really at work, I'm at uni but I found it to be a bit of a crappy experience being out from day 1. Quite sad that some people of even of my age have homophobic tendencies and opinions...

[~ocean]

Originally Posted by BstlMyhart

I've never been "in" anywhere...I've always just been me. I have rarely run into any issues about my obvious sexual orientation. And they were someone else's issues...not mine. Everyone from the Director to the inmates knows. We have anti discrimination policies that include sexual orientation and we do have domestic partner benefits. I'm just "Lt." one of the "brothers in uniform". They know when things go back, I have their back and I know they have mine. It's been proven time and again. There have been a few occassions when an inmate will "go off" and call me every derrogatory name in the book. I've had to hold back a fellow officer because THEY took greater offense than I did. I knew the inmate WANTED to hurt me, and I would not allow them that satisfaction. My partners however were pissed. I think if I were hetero...THAT would be an issue...no one in my life anywhere would consider that normal. lol

Also, being who I am and having my rank, I've recently had a few new officers, and now a few cadets going through our academy, telling me they know they can be themselves and will be able to advance in this career and in our facility. They have no fear that their sexual orientation will hold them back. I see their self confidence rising to the surface as oppose to their body language showing they fear they have to hide part of themselves to be accepted as a fellow officer, which is something I saw with a few officers when I first started. Those officers are no longer with us though I can't speculate that this was the reason they left...did they feel like outcasts and ostracized? I can't answer that. I do know that I see a new self awareness, pride, and self confidence in those joining our ranks now. And it makes me proud that where I work...it's all about the work and one's ability to carry out their missions. It's not about who you date and sleep with. The world really has evolved.

so well said (((bestill )))