Glenford Smith | Fear of workplace bias

QUESTION: I was very pleasantly surprised to read in the Careers section of The Sunday Gleaner of May 13, 2018, an article titled 'Human rights in the workplace'. It was refreshing to read your well-reasoned comments. I thank T.T. for writing, and I confess that it has caused me to write. I am a lesbian who has not come out to my parents and siblings. My issue is the people in Jamaica, and T.T. has put it well: they are backward. How long will workers like me have to hide my sexuality? My boss knows, but only she alone.

D.

CAREERS: Thank you for your letter. It is gratifying to know that you found the column refreshing. I am pleased that you followed T.T.'s example and decided to write in. Let me reiterate that whether you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender - LGBT - The Gleaner gives equal space to air your career concerns.

It is very mature and courageous of you to tell your boss that you are a lesbian. I can understand your reluctance to make the entire office be aware. Commendations to your boss, who, it would seem, has kept your confidence.

You say that your issue is with the Jamaican public, who, you say, are backward. I would say that you have to look at the issue in context. In just a matter of decades, you can be writing to the newspaper and telling your boss that you're a lesbian. You couldn't even be thinking that this was possible just the beginning of the last century. That is what the prime minister was saying. Jamaica has come a far way.

Edward Seaga, Bruce Golding, P.J. Patterson, and Portia Simpson-Miller felt that they couldn't legislate on the homosexuality issue. Give Andrew Holness a chance. Maybe in time, he will emerge as the prime minister who passes the legislation you so anxiously await. He says that the country is changing, is becoming more tolerant, so we will see.

How long, you ask, will you be able to declare your lesbianism for all to know? Your guess is as good as mine. The workplaces in Jamaica are changing too. Don't go revealing your sexuality there, though. It is not that tolerant. You may be pressured, and people may want to harm you personally. We are not yet that tolerant a people.

Be tolerant, too, even as you want others to be. Your fellow countrymen have grown up being taught that your behaviour is wrong. They have the scriptures to support them. That is all they know. Calling them backward, or thinking of them as backward, is counterproductive. Seek to educate them, if they are willing to listen.

As a lesbian, if someone at your place of work talks of breaching your rights, you must report it to the police. I know that the police are sometimes lax on these complaints, but if your rights are being threatened, you must be protected under the law. If someone says that he is going to beat you up, for instance, do not take it lightly.

You know your reasons why you don't want to come out and tell your parents and siblings about your lesbianism. Perhaps they are deeply religious and will judge you as a wretched sinner who needs to be washed with the blood of Jesus. If so, just continue to love them as best as you can and hope that through the education of the public, they may grow to understand you.

- Glenford Smith is a motivational speaker and success strategist. He is the author of 'From Problems to Power' and co-author of 'Profile of Excellence'. glenfordsmith@yahoo.com