Being Gay at Work is Still a Struggle

While gays can marry in more and more states, in 29 states - Virginia, naturally is one of them - it remains potentially dangerous to ones career to be out at work.  There are zero employment protections unless works for a federal government contractor.  I found this out first hand when a former law firm where I was out merged (actually, was taken over) by another firm that did not want a gay partner, and yours truly was out on the street. Thankfully, my new employer which is NOT based in Virginia could care less about my sexual orientation.  But far too many friend continue to worry that a slip up may expose their secret at work and lead to a firing.  A piece in The Economist looks at this sad state of affairs.  Another story via CNN that puts the closeted figure at 53% is here.  Here are highlights (Note: Walmart's homophobia - yet another reason to NEVER shop there):

WHEN American politicians, television presenters and even clergy come out of the closet these days, it barely makes the headlines. But the corporate world is different: until Apple’s boss, Tim Cook, said on October 30th that he is gay, there had never been an openly homosexual CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

The crossing of this symbolic threshold demonstrates both how much conditions have improved for gay executives and how far boardrooms lag the rest of society. Optimists see Mr Cook as the tip of an iceberg: since the average CEO is over 50 years old, others who are gay have already spent decades in the closet and are unlikely to come out now. Their successors, coming from a generation that has found it ever easier to be “out” at work, will be more visible.

Employers used to avoid hiring gay people for fear of alienating prejudiced customers—John Browne, who ran BP until he was outed in 2007, says Walmart, based in conservative Arkansas, withdrew an invitation to join its board in deference to the “religious right”. Such concerns now look unfounded: recent campaigns to boycott Starbucks and Target shops over gay-friendly policies had little impact. The number of big American firms scoring a maximum 100 on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index—which requires a “public commitment” to gay rights—has risen to 304, from just 13 in 2002.

Though employment policies, such as providing medical benefits to gay partners, are changing rapidly, corporate cultures evolve slowly. It is no coincidence that the first big firm with an openly gay boss once had “Think Different” as its slogan.

In his book, “The Glass Closet”, Mr Browne notes that two-fifths of gay, bisexual and transgender Americans are still closeted at work. Even in banks making an effort to be gay-friendly, he finds, many still keep quiet about their sexuality, just in case. Kenji Yoshino of New York University’s law school notes a tendency for those who are “out” to become ever more open among colleagues until they become candidates for top management, when they begin to play down their sexuality anew. Acceptance of gay people in business is growing, but there is still some way to go.

Being closeted at work is exhausting.  So much energy that could be better focused on one's job and productivity is wasted on worry and paranoia about your secret being discovered.  I've been there and done that and will NEVER do it again.  Never, ever.