On more than one occasion, an LGBT+ person may feel pressure and even confusion as to whether it's the right time to come out. And yes, this thinking happens in the work environment as well.
Coming out is a very important step for any LGBT+ person.for it is the moment in which decides to live free and calls himself a member of this group.. However, the process to get to this point is not always simple, because each person experiences something very different according to his or her context.
Insecurities about coming out can happen in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. This means that they are also latent in the workplace.
Why is there an International Coming Out Day?
October 11 is International Coming Out Day, this date began to be commemorated in the United States and is currently relevant in many other territories, including Mexico.
This event was celebrated for the first time in 1998 in Washington (United States). Some of the activists who promoted it were Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary. The reason why this day was chosen was that coincided with the anniversary of Washington's second National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.which happened on October 11, 1987 and attracted 200,000 people.
What does coming out imply in the work environment?
LGBT+ people never stop coming out of the closet. This happens because we are in a different context all the time. Some of us may declare our identity at school, in our family and with our friends. However, every time we meet someone new, there may be the fear of not knowing how they will react to knowing that we are someone who does not fit the orientation dictated to us by the heteronorma.
As we move into the world of work, it is important that we specify that no person is obliged to come out of the closet. This is an individual decision.
The fears surrounding coming out of the closet in this context can be very varied.. For example, perhaps a gay man believes he will no longer be viewed with the same authority if he is in a management position.. Or, a trans person may be afraid of facing social rejection at work.. And all of this is caused by the prejudice that LGBT+ people constantly face.
Although many companies in Mexico and around the world have adopted LGBT+ inclusion policies, we still have a long way to go. According to the National Survey on Sexual and Gender Diversity (Endiseg) 2021, 28.1% of respondents faced rejection in their jobs. This included unequal treatment with respect to the benefits, employment benefits or promotions and up to receive offensive comments.
With this information it is easier to understand why some people are still afraid to express their identity in their workspaces.
What can a company do to help a person come out at work?
Companies can help to someone having the confidence to come out of the closet to the provide a safe and equal opportunity environment. This encompasses LGBT+ people having the same employment benefits and promotion opportunities than those who are not part of this population.
Likewise, it is ideal to promote internally the creation of ERG related to LGBT+ issues. This will help employees have a clear vision that they are in an organization where diversity is accepted. And not only is the creation of the ERG important, it is also necessary to to promote participation in it at all levels.
One important thing is that employees will have the final say on whether or not they decide to come out of the closet in their jobs..
Hopefully, in the future, there will be no such thing as closets. Until that happens, the only thing a company can do is to make visible, support and give equal treatment to all LGBT+ people, so that those who are still afraid to come out of the closet can do so when they feel ready..
Have you ever thought about the implications of someone coming out at work?
With information from BBC, Homosensual, New York Times e Inegi
Research and editing by José Manuel Ríos and Mildred Pérez de la Torre
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