I work at a shelter for battered women. I work in the business office. We are run by a board of community members because we are a non profit org. Our volunteer coordinator just quit and a co-worker took over her postion. He is gay. I think he should get to keep the job. He is good at it. Our 'bosses' don't know if they will give him the position because him being male and gay could work against him. ie...the Volunteer coordinator gets together woith local schools and churches to educate about abuse. They think people will be wary bringing him into their schools and businesses. I think it is wrong to discriminate against him. Am I wrong?
Please do not use this question as a place to bash gays. This is a serious question for me and I would like serious answers.
2007-01-31 10:19:03 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
This is very wrong. Gay people deserve the same rights as anyone else. My question is, why does anyone at the schools or churches need to know that he is gay. I'm sure that if he was straight he wouldn't have to "come out" to the organization. Homosexuality is nothing more than a sexual orientation. As people, we are no different than straights. The only thing that makes us different is our sexual preference. I've decided that I don't like the term gay rights, this should be defined as human rights. When you use the term gay rights, it makes it sound as though we need special rights, because we are "different." Your shelter would be making a very big mistake by letting him go. He should be judged by his qualifications and work ethic, not his sexuality.
2007-01-31 12:57:03 · answer #1 · answered by Hmmm... 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think he should keep the job for several reasons, mostly because his job should be based on how good a job he does and not who he is as a person. Also, if he goes to local schools and churches to educate people about abuse, you can't overlook the fact that most (but not all) abusers are men and men who may be at risk to become an abuser or already an abuser without it being public knowledge may be more likely to listen to another man telling them that it is wrong. I see no reason that the schools and churches he would go to need to know what his sexual orientation is since it is none of their business and I doubt if they ask others who have visited for outreach purposes have declared their heterosexuality.
That being said, you may want to be aware of what laws there are in your community against discrimination against gay people. If there are no laws against discrimination he could still be fired once hired for no other reason than being gay. Also, if your non profit organization is faith based you should be aware that most religious organizations are exempt from laws that protect gay people from discrimination.
I'll include a link for a sexual orientation case that may be of interest to you. The woman described in the article filed lawsuit against being fired, but the courts threw the suit out since the employer was faith based and exempt from sexual orientation discrimination laws.
2007-01-31 20:02:03 · answer #2 · answered by χριστοφορος ▽ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are, and probably will always be, two Americas: one is a live and let live America where anything is possible and probable; the other is an America of personal viewpoints that are more difinitive, with somewhat unyielding standards.
Which America is the best America is up to how many people either side can muster. Right now, the majority opinion (at least of those who care enough to vote) is against having a gay man in a position like the one that you describe. It's probably stupid, but then no one, except Fox News, thinks the American electorate has an IQ larger than their collective shoe size, and that admission is only for public consumption. I think your friend is toast.
2007-01-31 18:57:26 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anticipating that others will discriminate against him is just as bad doing the discriminating. Unless he shows up in drag or something, how will anyone know he's gay (unless the boss goes around calling the schools to ask if there would be a problem, thereby creating one). Schools do have gay teachers, so I don't think there would be a problem anyway. The male thing I understand because abused women tend not to trust men or are afraid to be around them. But if there's no problem at the shelter itself, then there shouldn't be any outreach problem.
2007-01-31 18:32:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I don't think he should be thrown out of work just because he's gay. If he is adept enough in his work, then he should stay. So what if the Volunteer coordinator gets together with local schools and churches to educate about abuses, he let his secret out to people. It's just wrong to discriminate people for their sexual preference.
2007-02-01 02:39:51 · answer #5 · answered by sweet_kisses21 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Frankly, I don't see what his sexuality has to do with it, or why it even needs to be mentioned to the schools/churches that he would go to. Did they say "Mary Smith is coming in today to educate about abuse and teach awareness, and by the way, she is married, although this is her second marriage and she has three kids, but one is a stepkid, etc" What on earth should it matter to the churches/school? They are getting a service from your organization.
You are right, they should not discriminate against him.
2007-01-31 18:26:10 · answer #6 · answered by Beth B 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
To be honest, I think it might be fair to keep men out of those jobs, regardless of their sexual orientation. If for no other reason than there are many women there who would feel safer. As for whether or not it's "right" to discriminate because he's gay, nope. It's not. As for whether it's LEGAL, that depends entirely upon what state you're in. There are no federal protections for housing or employment for GLBT people.
2007-01-31 21:10:02 · answer #7 · answered by Atropis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
contrary to popular belief, because someone is gay doesn't mean that they will rape every young boy in the school, the simple fact is that thereare more sraight pediphiles than gay ones because there are gay ones. the very idea that someone would consider firing this man because of his sexual orientation sickens me, unless they have a valid reason to believe that he is in some way sexually perverted, they should not even consider taking away any of his rights, including his job!
2007-01-31 19:24:43 · answer #8 · answered by Narry 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes they should because being gay does not automatically make you a pedophile. If he is competent enough to do the work then why not. If the organization is a religious organization and it goes against their belief practices that is written into their hiring polices then only can I see a conflict but otherwise no.
2007-01-31 18:24:28 · answer #9 · answered by Michael K 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If they discriminate, boy are they going to be in for a surprise.
Especially nowadays, with the political upswing....that will get major attention in the liberal media.....as it should.
Your community members had better be careful. The media will eat this up.
2007-01-31 22:14:13 · answer #10 · answered by Jake 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋