Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation In The Workplace
While in the workplace, everyone deserves to have dignity and be treated with respect. However, many people experience discrimination based on who they are as individuals, especially those who consider themselves a part of the LGBTQ community.
You are not alone if you feel like you have been discriminated against at work on the basis of your sexual orientation or gender expression. In fact, over one in four (29.8%) LGBT employees reported experiencing at least one form of employment discrimination (being fired or not hired) because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and this discrimination skyrockets to LGBTQ people of color, somewhere around one-third of queer people of color feeling discrimination at the workplace.
Transgender workers experience agregioulsy high rates of discrimination in the workplace. Nearly half (48.8%) of transgender employees reported experiencing discrimination (being fired or not hired) based on their LGBT status compared to 27.8% of cisgender LGB employees.
What Can I Do If I Think I Am Experiencing Harassment?
First, it is important to be honest and introspective while you are determining if you are experiencing harassment at the workplace. Consider any performance related evaluations or meetings you have had in the past. If these meetings included constructive criticism with a course of improvement, it could be that your job performance just might not be up to par.
However, so much can go on behind the scenes. If you feel you are being told lies to push you out of your job for an unknown reason, if you are intentionally made to feel uncomfortable or less-than, any physical intimidation of any kind, or anything you feel personally is harassment, this is not acceptable.
The first step would be to file a grievance with your HR department or the closest equivalent department or role. However, all too often these complaints go unnoticed or ignored, so hope for an answer but at the same time be sure to consider your options of filing your complaint with with EEOC, and reaching out to an experienced employment attorney to make sure you fight for your deserved justice and that you can continue to work as openly and honestly as you find yourself comfortable with in the workplace.
Need The Help Of An Experienced Employment Law Attorney?
Sexual orientation is a protected class in the workplace and if you wants EEOC, our attorneys are here to help you in every step of the way. If you believe you are facing harassment on the basis of your sexual orientation or gender expression, please contact our dedicated and experienced discrimination attorneys at Makarem & Associates at 310.312.0299 or email us at [email protected]. You will not be disappointed!
