Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Another Self-Inflicted Victim of the Closet


According to 365gay.com (http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/05/050107bp.htm), the chair of international oil giant British Petroleum has resigned after it emerged he had lied in court during a lawsuit to prevent his former gay lover from doing a tell-all interview with a tabloid. It appears Lord Browne is yet another casualty of trying to lead a double life rather than admit to the world (and perhaps fully to himself) who he really is. I truly long for the day when no one feels the need to hide their sexual orientation and lead much of their life an actor on a stage:

“Lord Browne of Madingley, said to be the most powerful businessman in Britain, tendered his resignation after documents related to the trial were made public by the House of Lords, the UK's highest court. Browne was to have stepped down later this year.


His decision to leave now means he forfeits an estimated $25 million bonus from BP. During his tenure at the oil company he amended the company's worldwide employment policy to add sexuality to the categories protected from on the job harassment.”


I guess the one positive benefit from Lord Browne’s situation was the advancement of a non-discrimination based on sexual orientation policy throughout British Petroleum. It’s sad that he did not feel that he could apply that policy to himself.

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