Are you OUT at work?

[girl_dee]

in a way I totally envy butches for being obvious. Having to *out* yourself is not fun. Especially depending on the other people at the workplace,

My last job in NOLA it was totally cool. No biggie. The job before that I became the subject of daily comments and sexual harassment. The owner/boss was the worst, I wished I had come out right away on one hand, because time had gone by when they found out, on another I wish I had never come out, On the third hand i WANT to represent the community! i am tired of hiding!

Note: I do get the struggle of being visible and being discriminated against, I do not envy that.

[easygoingfemme]

I'm out to my co-workers but even with that I think a lot of them just still think I'm straight. I'm not out to clients because there's no talking about my personal relationships/family with them regardless. But I do keep a very visible rainbow flag in my office which could be interpreted as one wants to- I like my GBLTQ clients, esp emergency walk-ins to know it's a safe space.

[girl_dee]

Oh i am out now and i do speak about my Big Butch Daddi at times....

The best part is one in my office then came out to me! So of a team of 5, 2 are queer, that i know of.

[cathexis]

Both my Partner and I were very out at work (before becoming disabled). How can you hide it when your Partner brings you hot home cooked gourmet food each shift with treats like BBQ ribs or deviled eggs for your co-workers.

If that weren't enough, neither of us could pass for straight if we tried. We're definitely not lipstick lezzies or even gender neutral. lol

We both busted the closet door down, shredding the scraps!

[Kätzchen]

In my former years long career, almost everybody I worked with or served knew my specific orientation. Mostly because people would share some personal facet of their life, while performing an service, which would give me an oportunity to disclose my own life experience. Of course, coworkers or clients would always express surprise, to some degree, because on the surface, my physical appearance gives no clue that I am of any persuasion other than straight --- which has always been my experience, people assuming I am straight.

And, after leaving that particular safety of my years long profession as an hairdresser, stylist, colorist, etc., and merging my skills into a completely different work force, people would still most always learn in face to face encounters about my kind of orientation, due to people disclosing some form of work place harassment and needing to know how to handle it, who to report it to, stuff like that.

I think that's one of the particular un-asked for situations that presents certain challenges, which is not always the challenge for people who are easily read as being lesbian or dyke or some other form of obviousness (in my own opinion, my own experience in life). My own kind of orientation (bisexuality) is not easily understood, even by others who might be of similar persuasion. And, most often, it's awkward (for me) to always seemingly be in a position where it seems like I'm forced into doing someone's homework for them, which I don't relish at all.

Anyway, thankfully my employer does have an enforceable diversity policy and it's never become an issue for me at my workplace campus. Most anyone who knows me, knows me in personal ways. And for the most part, I'd say the workforce on my work campus is heavily represented on the LBGTQ side of life. Probably more so for L G and Q; with probably an smaller representation for those who are B and/or T.

[Ender]

No, not at work, some of the people I work with are pretty right wing, but a few people at the University I'm attending suspect I'm gay...

[Breathless]

For me.. It feels like a million years ago that it was such a stressful big deal to come out at work. Now I just dont care what people think in that way. I work in a fairly small office, 1 other gay person- transgendered, and one cute curious girly girl.. who is straight, until she drinks.. The drivers I work with -a few know, usually brought up in conversation when they ask about my husband, (lol) others don't and thats fine, I wouldnt deny it to anyone who asked, I just dont feel the need to announce to everyone like a flashing neon sign. I also work in a very multiracial company, many different beliefs, but I am thankful that I get the same high level of respect that I give.