Читать книгу Multicultural Psychology - Jennifer T. Pedrotti - Страница 60

I’m just starting a new job right now and I’m still getting to know my coworkers and my boss. I live in the Midwest in a pretty small town, where a lot of the community is pretty religious and also pretty conservative. I’m used to this because I grew up in a similar kind of town, but as an adult it’s been a little more difficult for me. I’ve been out as a gay man for several years, and my partner and I have been together for quite some time, but until recently we were living in a larger city and it was less conservative as well. We have a long-distance relationship right now, so no one knows us as a couple here. I’ll have to see how things go as I get to know my coworkers a bit more, but for right now I don’t feel comfortable disclosing to anyone that I’m gay. I had a picture on my desk of the two of us when I first started working, and I got several questions about it. One coworker seemed to stare at it for a while and then said, “Oh, that must be your brother, I guess,” and another asked if my partner was a college roommate. I started realizing that this might be a situation in which I have to hide my sexual orientation for a while before I decide if it’s safe to let anyone know. I know in this state there isn’t a law protecting sexual minorities from being fired from their jobs, and I need this job, so I think I’ll keep quiet for a while. I took the picture off my desk too.

—Lou, age 30

Similar to the vignette describing gender and worldview, this scenario also concerns safety, though of a somewhat different type. At the time this book was published, only 22 of the 50 states (and Washington, DC) included protections for sexual orientation in terms of prohibiting discrimination, including being protected from being fired from one’s job for this reason (Williams Institute, UCLA 2019). Though the Equality Act (which offers protection from firing for both sexual orientation and gender identity in addition to other protections) passed the House of Representatives in May of 2019, it remains to be seen currently whether the act will pass the Senate. In addition, only 19 states prohibited discrimination against individuals related to gender identity. (Note: Though being transgender is related to gender—not sexual orientation, as transgender people may be of any sexual orientation—these laws are noted here because transgender individuals’ status is often discussed with respect to laws related to LGBTQ status.) Talking about family and friends, and perhaps especially partners or spouses, is a very common part of one’s ordinary life in both work and personal domains. Lou, however, based on the worldview he describes above, is clearly nervous that exercising this everyday right might not only impact his employment status but likely raise other potential issues for him as well. Thus, Lou’s worldview is that the world is not always safe. Physical safety, or lack thereof, might also be a prominent feature in the worldviews of LGBTQ individuals across the country. The Anti-Defamation League (2020) reports that approximately 16% of hate crimes are recorded as being related to sexual orientation, and many of these crimes victimize personal safety for LGBTQ individuals. Though federal laws have been changed in recent times to give rights to LGBTQ individuals for same-sex marriage, it is important to note that states may not all offer the same protections within this community.