I work in CA where there is job protection for LGBT. My employer has about 900 employees, but there are real hold over racial and LGBT issues. The org has gone thru serious growth in the last years and has become a very diversified workforce. It had litigation serious racial issues a few years before I started, and a fair amount of the old guard has retired. But, there is still serious tension. Senior management is attempting to address the racial problems, but LGBT discrimination isn't given much attention. We have formed an LGBT "affinity group" as have many of the ethnic minorities. Whereas their issues are treated seriously, ours are basically ignored. For example, many know there is an unofficial anti-gay "newsletter" written and circulated via email by a group that's been brought to mgt attention, but nothing's been done since we don't have a hard copy. Quiet slurs and so forth aren't endemic but not all that uncommon either.
Do you have any advice for us?
2006-09-22 16:09:48 · 11 answers · asked by Alex62 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Or, maybe I should just send our CEO a link to this question? Hmm.
2006-09-22 16:22:50 · update #1
Document, document, document. Write down what happens, when it happened, who did it, and what witnesses were present. Take this list of complaints to your management. If they still refuse to do anything, seek legal help and sue their butts off!
2006-09-23 02:51:24 · answer #1 · answered by carora13 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's problematic because while your state may provide protection, "sexual orientation" is not a federally protected class like race, gender, religion, etc. So while you may be able to raise the issue at a local level, there's only so far it can go.
I would try to bring it up on the grounds of harassment and mention the anti-gay newsletter. Try to get someone fairly new to the company "in" with the anti-gays so s/he receives the newsletter...then you'll have a copy. Usually, employers won't tolerate hate speech of any kind. If they do, you should find yourself another job because this company is only going to cause more trouble for you in the future.
Good luck, I know this must be hard!
2006-09-23 02:33:30 · answer #2 · answered by tsdeck5 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ACLU
American's Civil Liberties Union. They are a lawfirm that is very political and goes after groups that discriminate against lgbtq people all the time.
(I don't recall which link it is below)
Also, everytime it happens, file a police report. No, serious. Even if it is just a slur. It is considered a hate incident and at the very least it is considered harrassment. Don't ever let a single incident go unreported. After so many reportings, you've built a solid case against the company and you can file a lawsuit, or they can begin enforcing the anti discrimination laws.
The important thing thoug, IS TO REPORT EVERY SINGLE INFRACTION EVEN IF IT IS A SNEER. It is still not okay. You are human, and your identity is your own busines. No one has the right to harrass you for being queer or otherwise lgbtq identified.
Good luck!
2006-09-22 16:18:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Keep a journal of all offenses - time, date, exact quote, any steps you took regarding the issue, names, etc.
Find a sympathizer who will infiltrate the "gay haters" to get that "newsletter". Starting with a low voiced mildly gay-bashing joke told to one of the "in-group" should get them started. Get several copies of that email and any responses. Have that person write down as much as they can of what goes on. Make sure they don't really become involved, though.
Then, you take your issues to your supervisor. If that doesn't go anywhere, head to the next in line until there is no more next in line. If you truly exhaust all your options, drop the emails and some of the journal to the local press. It is important to get people to see that these types of discrimination are not okay, and sometimes that requires hitting hard. Just make sure you keep your hands clean and follow the procedures on your end.
2006-09-22 16:18:04 · answer #4 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't know..I was in a similar situation..but the union always stood behind us...however every time a GLBT bit of information was put up on the notice board it would be removed...We just kept putting up another one....My situation wasn't all that serious however...because I seriously would have taken any one of "them" on one on one...but like so often...they hide behind their anonymity(is that an oxymoron?)...Can you not approach the ethnic minority groups and see if you can all work together? I would keep pushing at mgtmnt and go higher if you have to ...obviously your local management sees that there is a problem..maybe it should be brought to someone higher's interest that they don't seem to be doing an effective job of dealing with it.
2006-09-22 16:21:53 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Bringthese issues up to your HR Staff. The company can be sued for things like the thingsthat are going on. HR should have a diversity program to prevent these types of things from happening
2006-09-22 20:14:59 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i'm a bisexual transman, and my on campus housing concern in first twelve months college grew to become into disgusting. They placed me in with homophobic women, and refused my requests to pass till between the lady's boyfriend got here at me with a knife (do no longer difficulty i grew to become into positive, he grew to become into worse off for it interior the tip nevertheless) by way of fact i grew to become into doing the dishes at 10 AM on a Saturday. I had asked initially to be put in co-ed or a male room, yet they left out that outright. each and every time i've got had roommate i did no longer choose, they have constantly been the form of person i'd on no account in any different case go alongside with. whether it grew to become into my orientation, my transition, my flavor in track, or my haircut that rubbed the final public of them the incorrect way i will on no account verify of nor will I care. I had 2 large roommates as quickly as, and that they have been the only 2 (of approximately twenty roommates i've got had via the years) who theory it grew to become into cool i'm bisexual, and beautiful as quickly as I had gay crushes. those women, have been actual truthful Christians. loopy eh?
2016-10-01 06:39:22 · answer #7 · answered by kuhlmann 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just wait. Give these idiots enough rope and they will hang themselves for sure. Most people like this usually make a stupid mistake and end up telling on themselves. Get 'em !
2006-09-22 16:15:34 · answer #8 · answered by vik 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You have to have proof and when you get it, go public and go loud. Contact any media, regulatory agencies affiliated with your company, companies they have contracts with, their clients, the ACLU. Start talking and talk alot. You need that email.
2006-09-22 16:13:40 · answer #9 · answered by tjnstlouismo 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Get the ACLU involved, that should get managements attention.
2006-09-22 16:12:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋