Whether or not to make your sexual orientation known at work is your decision alone. Alan Gilmour, a retired Ford Motor Company executive who did not officially come out while he was an executive at Ford, lost out on two promotions (“My Life as a Gay Executive”, Fortune Magazine, September 8, 1997). Though his being gay was a subject of office gossip, Gilmour cannot say whether it affected his shot at promotion. Retired, he is now a board member at several large companies.
In 1994, a group of gay and lesbian Ford employees formed an organization, GLOBE, to represent their concerns. Not all companies are as receptive to the needs of their gay and lesbian employees, and fear repercussions from anti-gay groups. Certain groups have boycotted corporations that support gay rights. In the Fortune article, though, Mr. Gilmour says this may not be as pressing an issue as one might think: "few people are going to spend the time and energy trying to figure out what they should not be buying."
At the present time there is no federal law that prohibits employers from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Few states have enacted such a law. This fact might weigh heavily in one's decision to come out. However, one must determine if he or she wants to be employed by a company that discriminates.
I have pulled together some resources to help you decide whether to come out at work:
- Things to Consider Before Coming Out at Work
Advice from the About.com Guide to Lesbian Life, Kathy Belge. - Career Resources for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Students & Alumni
From University of Pennsylvania Career Services. - Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund
Lambda is a legal organization working for the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, and people with HIV/AIDS. - Planet Out
An online community for gay and lesbian people.
