Education and gay people?

Question

Okay, I am homosexual and am an education major. Do administrators tend to discriminate against gay people when making hiring decisions? if hired, am I able to be fired should parents find out? Im curious as to if this can affect my career. And im also curious about my rights.

I dont plan on revealing my orientation in the classroom or to employers, but I do know that information like this does tend to surface up.

Answer 1

I am a lesbian and a teacher. I taught in a school for several years. We had a new administrator come in who has more problems than homophobia, but he definitely has issues with gay people. I was not "out" then. I kept it hidden from most people, but people talk. Some suspected and those suspicions got back to him. He had no reason to fire me and I had been there long enough that he HAD to have a reason. He did many things to make me quit. I stayed much longer than he wanted me to, but when I did leave, I left on my own terms. When I began interviewing for other positions, sexuality was not an issue. What was an issue was my record and my student performance. Those are the things that count. I am in a new position now with a boss who is more concerned with my job performance than who I live with. That is how it should be. I am sure that my boss, along with many other people wonder about my orientation, but my job does not dfepend on who I sleep or live with. I know that my boss does have gay friends because there have been conversations about them. If I was asked, I would come out, but I am not going to bring it up because it isnt appropriate to discuss in the work place.

I also have a good friend who is an openly gay male educator. He has been ridiculed and all but pushed out of the same system that I described above. Although that school system wanted to get rid of him, he has received state and national awards for his work with children. He is also now in a place where he is respected for his work, not his lifestyle.

Finally, check the school system's discrimination policy before applying. Most schools do not write sexual orientation into their policy. Some are beginning to. I guarantee that you will find gay people in every school that you walk into. Some are obvious, while others are deep in the closet. Talk with people that you know and trust. Networking with other people where you are can give you an insight that this forum cannot.

If you are interested in talking, you can IM me.

Answer 2

It all depends on what state you are interested in working. Some states do protect your rights as a homosexual to obtain and maintain employment, but not all...not even a majority of states actually.

Yes, you will unboubtedly encounter discrimination on that regard. Many times employers will fire an employee for made up reasons or simply say "it wasn't working out." Some states don't even require a reason be given.
Those states are called "right to work states" which in all actuallity translates to "right to be fired" states.

Here in Illinois we have a double edged sword.
We do infact have LGBT employment protections, but we're also a "right to work" state. Meaning an employer doesn't actually have to give a reason unless sued over it.
No matter what, as long as you've worked that state's required amount of time, you will still have a right to unemployment compensation...which in "right to work" states can be your safetynet. The employer MUST give a reason for termination to the state Employment Compensation Department, and if it is suspicious you do have the right to sue.

In those cases it's best to contact not only the ACLU but LAMBDA Legal as well.

Go to HRC.org for a list of GLBT rights per state. This will help you be prepared BEFORE interviewing in certain states. Always know your rights where ever you are! Being prepaired is half the battle!

Answer 3

Well sadly in these days of using lame excuses to start wars and create a fundermentalist totalitarian dictatorship in the USA, people are learning once again that they are free to trample on the freedom of others as that is the only freedom granted to the little people truely smiled upon by the statisquo.
Though people do not want to hear about complications they just wont everything to be easy. So if the USA looks like a garbage dump full contraditions, then the hateful will first turn on anyone who is different, all they need is a bit of cheerleading.
My advice, in this backward time, is to keep it to yourself. Let the current atmosphere relax a little more and then when you feel that people are sick of their fundermentalist leaders and want to know what's really going on in the world because their own children are coming back in body bags and the economy is crashing down around them and so on, then that's a good time to come out as people will be wanting difference. Just look at the Vietnam War and how that changed the general climate.
Hope this makes some sense.

Answer 4

As a recently graduated ed major, i can say that I am personally keeping things a under-wraps as possible. I also live in a very conservative area, where if you don't fit in with the majority in any way (sexual orientation, religion, politics, etc), you'll be discriminated against. And teachers take the brunt of it.

So, my advice? Don't tell. Don't let them find out. Otherwise, you're likely to be out of a job (and possibly your entire career... school districts all talk to one another, and if you get fired from one for being homosexual, you may have a hard time finding another one to hire yu)

Answer 5

Well from, your question i assume that your talking about American education? You are under no legal obligation to reveal your sexuality, just because you are gay it does not impead your ability to teach in the classroom. I would however recommend that you join a union, just in case you do experience any trouble in your posting. I like to think that educational places, schools, colleges and universities are diverse places.

Tip: See if your place of work has a LGBT society, since my University has a lecturer's LGBT society!

Answer 6

Based on your avatar, I am assuming you are a woman, so you will probably encounter less discrimination than you would if you were a man. I will admit that if I had a son, I would fear him having a gay male teacher but if I had a daughter, I wouldn't fear her having a lesbian teacher.

Some states provide protection for sexual orientation. I believe Maryland does for example. Most "blue" states will.

As a woman, it should be easy for you to hide your orientation to. Don't look the part.

Answer 7

you are gay and therefore do not have rights....

you are gay and will inherently want to have sex with my child....

you are gay and will teach my kids how to be gay too....

you are gay and must be evil.....


these are some of the ridiculous statements you are going to have to deal with when people find out you are gay and teaching their children.... do people discriminate?.. of course they do.. dont ask, dont tell isnt just for the military.

if i were you, i would figure out what is most important to you.. is it fighting for gay rights? or teaching kids? if the latter, then you need to leave your personal life at home and be discreet at work because it will absolutely negatively effect your life.

parents are most paranoid when it comes to other people effecting the way their children think or behave and people fear most what they do not understand.

can the school fire you..legally? i have no idea, but i am sure they can make your life such a living hell that you will be forced to quit and if lucky, not labeled with a scarlet G for the next school.

Answer 8

I don't think it would be an issue as long as you don't tell the class or describe gay relationships in teaching unless it is part of your assigned lessons. As long as you remain professional and keep your personal life out of the classroom why would anyone care? Don't give them a reason to fire you.

Are you sure you are gay?

Answer 9

You have the same rights as
anyone else applying for and
keeping a job. Why would you
reveal your sexual preference on
an interview or to your students?
I f you're fired, you get a written
assessment of why you were. If
it's anything but professional or
smells fishy, contact the ACLU.

Answer 10

Most employers do discriminate against gay people.

Be prepared to have at least one ignorant parent up in arms.

In some states, yes, you can be fired "for no reason" (being gay)