How To Deal With Homosexuality In The Workplace

Step 1: Being out of the closet at work

Most gay people who are out at work find that they are able to do their jobs more effectively, because they don't have to constantly be on their guard about letting their secret out. Staff who are open about their sexuality will generally be more happy and productive. One approach to coming out is to make it naturalistic, rather than telling someone you're gay, you could instead talk about some aspect of your life which implies you're gay rather and declares it i.e. talking about something you and your partner did at the weekend, after all, your straight colleagues don't make a special declaration about their sexuality

Step 2: Working with gay people

If you work with gay people, whether you are gay or not, treat them the same as you would any other colleague. Remember that homosexuality is no indication of a person's ability to do a job. In many workplaces there is culture of light-hearted banter between colleagues, often of a sexual nature. Just remember that jokes about sex or sexuality may be offensive to some people, and some jokes can even be interpreted as abuse. So when you're at work judge the tone of your humour carefully, whether your colleagues are gay or straight.

Step 3: The legalities

In many countries, including the UK, there is now legislation protecting the rights of gay people at work.
Coming out at work is now much safer than it's ever been.
Some larger companies have taken tremendous steps to be supportive of their LGBT staff - see the Stonewall Diversity Champion's scheme. They may have LGBT staff groups where you can meet other LGBT colleagues.

Smaller companies may be less organised or familiar with the legislation and information can be got from Trades Unions Gay Rights at Work: http://www.tuc.org.uk/tuc/rights_gay.cfm Unfortunately the Gay rights at work group LAGER is no longer running.

If you're being bullied at work: http://www.bullyonline.org/workbully/index.htm and http://www.banbullyingatwork.com/ and Andrea Adams Trust http://www.andreaadamstrust.org/
Trades Unions are very active in challenging workplace harassment