Sexual orientation, stigma & job loss

Reports coming forward suggests that more and more lgbt people in Jamaica are being faced with job losses due to perceived negative notions of their sexual orientation, some more overt than others indeed three cases of same gender loving women have been brought to my attention by concerned persons while one from a gay male who was working with his last employer for some seven years plus. For the females referred to above two on the face of it suffered a sort of profiling and intense scrutiny by their former employers and coworkers so much so that one individual was asked to change her mode of dress despite any clear dress code in effect or in writing or face dismissal while the other was the subject of the usual office cubicle gossip done loudly enough for her earshot to pick up.

The government services however does has some level of protection, under Section 13 of the staff orders paper covering Equal Opportunity it states Employees should be treated fairly on

the grounds of

1) Race

2) Gender

3) National Origin

4) Colour

5) Religious beliefs

6) Political affiliation

7) Disability

8) and last but by no means least Sexual Orientation

one of the few progressive documents that exists that deals directly with Sexual Orientation and possible sanctions from damage from such if deemed discriminatory. One woman who I spoke to directly said she knew that they about to make the moves on her as the subtle hints came every now and again, she said her strong personality may have been intimidatory to her boss as well and he occasionally complained or asked why she never wore skirts or dresses to work and if she had a man? the latter question came nearing to the end of the life of her employment. The sole male complainant said he was uncomfortable from the get go at his job as the curious looks and questions such as his care in putting himself together suggesting he must be gay as only gay men take time to be detailed in personal grooming, the subtle remarks similar to our same gender loving sister above also dogged him for some time as other male employees would pounce on him with remarks pertaining to relationships and sex with girls comments to which he may casually try to fit in the conversation to avoid the unneeded scrutiny but it was clear the gossip mill was on.

Things came to a head however when the anti gay sentiments were stepped up with one particular coworker levelling them squarely at him and as time passed he noticed the supervisor also going in that general direction as well, he was dismissed on trumped up third strike grounds that went against his employment record he said as he was late on particular morning and all kinds of "faults" suddenly appeared from nowhere, luckily for him he managed to land another job just some weeks after that separation but not all persons who face this kind of stigma are so lucky or are strong enough to deal with or confront their detractors. A suggestion was made at a recent discussion involving a JFLAG representative that there is a lawyer on retainer there who can be contacted on 978-7876. Some persons choose to absorb the problems without seeking redress and move on, I guess everyone is entitled to choose their own road.

There are situations though where persons use the opportunity to confront their detractors and "educate" them as to the wrong committed of course there has to be some semblance of tolerance already present to achieve this, it makes no sense one plays the hero only to loose out big time in the end.

Peace and tolerance

H