Generation Next

26 Feb 2015

Coming Out and being Out at Work

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Coming out as LGBTI at work is often a pretty daunting task, especially when you don’t know how people around you are likely to react. There are all kinds of things to think about, just like when coming out in any other space. In Victoria, however, you are protected by laws – whether in recruitment, the workplace itself or in dismissal.

The protection covers gender identity, sexual orientation and lawful sexual activity. That means that any discrimination, whether it’s from bosses or colleagues, is against the law and there are things you can do to stop it! Employers are required by the law to make sure that employees do not discriminate against anyone and employers themselves can have complaints made against them to the Human Rights Commission.

What are some of your experiences in employment and what advice would you offer to somebody wanting to come out at work?