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ShyGuyInChicago
June 25th, 2011, 08:16 PM
On the TV network Logo, I saw a documentary called Out on the Job. It focused on three people in different states where it is legal to fire someone on the basis of sexual orientation. Laurel lives in North Carolina in a town (Asheville, I believe) that she believed was quite progressive and liberal and is a photographer and was fired (along with her wife) from the hotel she and her wife was employed at; after her boss saw their wedding announcement in the local newspaper he fired Laurel and her wife. She and her wife became a reluctant activists for employment equality. Scott is a police in officer in Montana and is openly gay and it occasionally makes his job and life more difficult than it might be if he were a straight police officer. At one point in the documentary,eggs were thrown at his house and his pick up truck was vandalized and it has led him to fear for his, his partner, and their foster son's safety. Matisha lives in Florida and is hairstylist. She is close to her boss, Antoinette, and considers her a mother figure, but Matisha fears that if Antoinette (who is quite religious) finds out she is a lesbian she will lose her job and in Matisha's own words "almost everything." When Matisha came out to her own mother their relationship ended and Matisha fears the same reaction. Another complication is that Matisha is supporting her girlfriend Sanagwa, financially.

Now I was wondering if anyone has ever had to deal with such issues. I am in the process of finding a job, and I don't think I will have a problem as far as discrimnation is concerned because my sexuality will not come up. Also in Illinois, it is illegal to deny employment on the basis of sexuality and gender identity.
ShatteredWings
June 25th, 2011, 09:19 PM
I will. I'm bisexual and transgender, living in PA which has no discrimination laws against sexuality/gender identity or percieved of either.

Right now I just can't get a job due to age :rolleyes:
Alice
June 26th, 2011, 07:29 PM
I haven't dealt with anything like that, but I feel as though a person owns a business, he or she should be able to hire or fire anyone for any reason. My dad owns a plumbing company and he will not hire anyone who has visible piercings or tattoos and that's his right as a business owner. He says if a little old lady calls with a dripping sink she might be afraid to let a guy with a tattoo or eye- ring into her house, then my dad looses a customer and looses money.
anonymous53
June 26th, 2011, 08:15 PM
One of the teachers in my school just came out openly gay and has mysteriously been "Put on suspension pending investigation" here in PA. Along with my boss being a gay basher at a place I work, I don't think I'll be coming out any time soon
ShyGuyInChicago
June 29th, 2011, 10:41 PM
I haven't dealt with anything like that, but I feel as though a person owns a business, he or she should be able to hire or fire anyone for any reason. My dad owns a plumbing company and he will not hire anyone who has visible piercings or tattoos and that's his right as a business owner. He says if a little old lady calls with a dripping sink she might be afraid to let a guy with a tattoo or eye- ring into her house, then my dad looses a customer and looses money.

I understand not hiring someone because of the tattoos or grooming for example. But I think it goes to far when one discriminates against groups of people such as racial/ethnic groups or people of certain sexualities, and etc.
CarolinaDude
June 30th, 2011, 06:12 PM
Laurel's story happened in North Carolina? Aw dang, this makes my state look bad :(

I guess it does happen in a lot of states, though, so I understand. But yeah, this kinda stuff makes me really mad. I mean, it's just wrong, really... But I have the feeling that this issue is going to stay around for a LONGGG time unless something extremely radical happens, and even then it definitely won't disappear fully (like racism or racial prejudice). It sucks.