Moral support for the GLBT or GBLT or ...

[Bluebiyou]

Hey y'all,
this problem with my (major, major, usa defense contractor) company is getting to a point of determination. I am just about ready to 'come out of the closet' as a bisexual to make national news regarding -extremely dramatic- discrimination. Natch (naturally), this will be a serious career bender/stopper. Yet, I see on the other side, doing the world a favor the Rosa Parks way. I will blacklist myself... just to reveal and publicise the still present prejudice to GLBT and how deep that still runs in huge major corporations.
I do have money enough to run for a year or two without a job.
I suppose I just need emotional support now. I'm thinking the end/begining of this is a week or two away.
Please talk to me and give me your emotional/community support. There are times that any one of us may be called to stand for the rest.
Come to think of it, never mind, either I can stand alone, or ... prejudice against WHAT we are prevails. Ultimately, I stand alone.... Y'all, I HOPE these son-of-a-bitchin-assholes continue the last steps. Then perhaps all these death threats and attempts will have some meaning.

[DiamondDog]

Good luck!
I think you're doing the right thing by coming forward.

Get a good lawyer and document tons of things and even have co-workers be able to vouch for this as well.

[Promising Galahad]

Similar thing happened to me. Everyone at work just assumed I was gay. I never mentioned it, they just thought I had the characteristics of being gay. I then brought in a girl and some questions were asked. I casually said I was bi. I didn't make a big deal over it, I just casually mentioned it. Some were curious some thought I was just afarid to come out and was actually gay.I think by me downplaying it made a difference. Who you sleep with and love is no one's business but yours. Your sexuality has nothing to do with your work or job, so I wouldn't officially come out. I would more casually just state your bisexual.No one comes out as being straight, so why should it matter? Theres a girl I work woth who is gay and sometimes I honestly think she is looking for a fight/attention. I SO don't want to be that.People I notice sometimes walk on eggshells around her. Is your company gay friendly? Are there other gay people there? I'd test the water but I really don't think you have anything to worry about. Anyway, just my 2 cents. Good luck!

[Skater Boy]

Good luck, amigo!

The freedom to have pride in yourself is indeed a valuable thing. But I do wonder whether the potential consequences of your actions will prove to cause more trouble for you than its worth.

I guess if you truly value your freedom and want to ensure that your sexual preferences are respected (or at least tolerated), then you have no choice but to come out.

But if you're the type of person who can handle the odd homophobic comment if it means maintaining a successful career and lifestyle, then do think it through carefully, because the dole-queue ain't much fun.

What price, a man's freedom?

[Bluebiyou]

"Is your company gay friendly? Are there other gay people there? I'd test the water but I really don't think you have anything to worry about."
Is my company gay friendly... certainly that's what they'd like people to think.
Are there other gay people there? Yes, certainly in the company, but not at my location.
I'd test the water but I really don't think you have anything to worry about.
Naw, dude, you obviously don't understand.
I've already HAD death threats (too many to count); potentially deadly sabbotage to my vehicles (several),... did I mention someone poisoned my tupperware lunch one time and I went blind for a while?
NOW, my company is trying to bury/whitewash the whole thing. At the last death threat, I reported it to the company folks who are supposed to take care of that.
My company has proceded to ignore the entire investigation to try to fire me. Through sanity and the mere luck of God, each step of their effort has failed. In the next week or two I suspect these folks will be successful. And their problem will be eliminated.
The funny thing is the bad press that comes from this... if it costs them a single sale or contract... will cost them 100s/1000s of times what it would have cost them to settle with me the right way. C'est la vie. Vive la France!

[BiphobiaFighter]

:flag2::flag2::flag2::flag2::flag2:
I don't deserve this username. :bigrin:
Best of luck with what you decide to do.

At the bottom of the page I'm linking to is Robyn Ochs's email (http://www.robynochs.com/). She's a great bi activist and you might find it useful to discuss this with her for support and advice.

Maybe breaking the news to Mike Szymanski and/or Nicole Kristal, journalists that are bi, would be a good idea (http://www.bisexualsguide.com/Contact.html). Or asking them for recommendations of who to contact. Their bisexuality and bi activism probably makes them better at getting the news out correctly and fairly than if you told non-bisexual journalists.

I also just learned what "natch" means, so thanks. :)

EDIT:

I've already HAD death threats (too many to count); potentially deadly sabbotage to my vehicles (several),... did I mention someone poisoned my tupperware lunch one time and I went blind for a while?
NOW, my company is trying to bury/whitewash the whole thing. At the last death threat, I reported it to the company folks who are supposed to take care of that.
My company has proceded to ignore the entire investigation to try to fire me. Through sanity and the mere luck of God, each step of their effort has failed. In the next week or two I suspect these folks will be successful. And their problem will be eliminated.
The funny thing is the bad press that comes from this... if it costs them a single sale or contract... will cost them 100s/1000s of times what it would have cost them to settle with me the right way. C'est la vie. Vive la France!
That post was made when I was writing my post. I am very sorry that you had to go through that. You're doing the right thing. The very right thing.

[Skater Boy]

"Is your company gay friendly? Are there other gay people there? I'd test the water but I really don't think you have anything to worry about."
Is my company gay friendly... certainly that's what they'd like people to think.
Are there other gay people there? Yes, certainly in the company, but not at my location.
I'd test the water but I really don't think you have anything to worry about.
Naw, dude, you obviously don't understand.
I've already HAD death threats (too many to count); potentially deadly sabbotage to my vehicles (several),... did I mention someone poisoned my tupperware lunch one time and I went blind for a while?
NOW, my company is trying to bury/whitewash the whole thing. At the last death threat, I reported it to the company folks who are supposed to take care of that.
My company has proceded to ignore the entire investigation to try to fire me. Through sanity and the mere luck of God, each step of their effort has failed. In the next week or two I suspect these folks will be successful. And their problem will be eliminated.
The funny thing is the bad press that comes from this... if it costs them a single sale or contract... will cost them 100s/1000s of times what it would have cost them to settle with me the right way. C'est la vie. Vive la France!

In that case, give 'em hell and fight 'em every step of the way. And as recommended, try and contact any people or organizations that may be able assist you in this process.

[shameless agitator]

Proud of ya Blue. We need more people like you who are willing to put themselves on the line. This kind of thing is the only way we're ever going to get anywhere.

[vittoria]

go 'head on with your bad self!! :)

[the mage]

Hey y'all,
this problem with my (major, major, usa defense contractor) company is getting to a point of determination. I am just about ready to 'come out of the closet' as a bisexual to make national news regarding -extremely dramatic- discrimination. Natch (naturally), this will be a serious career bender/stopper. Yet, I see on the other side, doing the world a favor the Rosa Parks way. I will blacklist myself... just to reveal and publicise the still present prejudice to GLBT and how deep that still runs in huge major corporations.
I do have money enough to run for a year or two without a job.
I suppose I just need emotional support now. I'm thinking the end/begining of this is a week or two away.
Please talk to me and give me your emotional/community support. There are times that any one of us may be called to stand for the rest.
Come to think of it, never mind, either I can stand alone, or ... prejudice against WHAT we are prevails. Ultimately, I stand alone.... Y'all, I HOPE these son-of-a-bitchin-assholes continue the last steps. Then perhaps all these death threats and attempts will have some meaning.

.........................Please be careful. Your personal safety is at stake here.
I need to point out that the issues you face are ones you probably will not win in a court even if you got that far. The lawmakers in your country just stopped the legislation that would have protected you from the very harassment you and others face. It is not a crime to despise you because you are who you are. I fear it will be only you who suffers here.
Please move with caution.

[Skater Boy]

.........................Please be careful. Your personal safety is at stake here.
I need to point out that the issues you face are ones you probably will not win in a court even if you got that far. The lawmakers in your country just stopped the legislation that would have protected you from the very harassment you and others face. It is not a crime to despise you because you are who you are. I fear it will be only you who suffers here.
Please move with caution.

Yes, it IS worth considering whether you can win this one before taking action. A wise warrior never fights a battle that he knows he cannot win.

[shameless agitator]

.........................Please be careful. Your personal safety is at stake here.
I need to point out that the issues you face are ones you probably will not win in a court even if you got that far. The lawmakers in your country just stopped the legislation that would have protected you from the very harassment you and others face. It is not a crime to despise you because you are who you are. I fear it will be only you who suffers here.
Please move with caution.This is a good point. You should check out your state laws on the issue. Some states have added sexual orientation to their nondiscrimination laws, but others haven't. I'd forgotten momentarily that it's actually still legal in some states. The death threats etc. would still be punishable under other laws, but you may want to ask yourself how this will effect your future employment prospects & just how much you're willing to sacrifice.

[Promising Galahad]

Sounds like you should notify the ACLU and GLAD. If you can prove or document any of the threats you have a decent law suit ahead of you. Your right, I didn;t know all of that. I think coming out for a compnay that bad is a bad idea. However, I would take action. Sounds like they are living in the stone ages and I'd make sure they know what they are doing is illegal.Good Luck!

[bigregory]

It's ok to tell your boss your bi/gay here in Canada. Hell you might even get invited to more parties..