It is the summer in the middle of the 2000s. You just graduated from high school and need a job. Nobody wants to hire you, because you lack experience. How can you attain experience when nobody will hire you? There is a recession and the few places that are hiring naturally pick the most qualified applicant. You finally land a position at the local coffee shop. You tell yourself this is temporary until you can find a position with a company that offers benefits and promotions. You send your unimpressive resume daily in the hopes that someone will give you a chance.
Then one day a friend tells you there is an open position at their company. This company offers higher pay, promotions, and benefits. You apply, but unfortunately, as if your weak resume was not bad enough, you are a member of the LGBTQIA+ group. This should not matter, since there are laws protecting members of this group, however, this does not stop discrimination. You eagerly wait to hear from your friend. Your friend provides an honest update. “They looked you up on social media and asked if you were gay. I told them you are, and they feel you will be too sensitive, and it will be an HR nightmare. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that though, so you never heard that.” But you did hear it. You heard it and felt it. You were just discriminated against based on both your looks and sexual orientation. Neither of which impacts your work ethic. It makes you wonder how often this happens with the excuse “We picked a more qualified candidate.”
The above story is a true account of discrimination that happened to me. But what hurts more is knowing this has happened to others. It is comforting working for a company that values us based on our ethics. The owner and creator of Research Services (Gail Appell) hired me and embraced me for who I am and my abilities as an employee. Her sons took over the business after she passed, and the office culture continues to be open and accepting. Though it is technically the law, it is still a relief to work in a safe environment. I am proud of who I am and I hope that all of the members of my LGBTQIA+ family are proud of who they are as well.
Happy Pride!
