Make it stop! One bit of research leads me down one path to a rabbit hole that leads me to another! The madness is endless...
Anywho, I digress, as I sit here and think about how far I’ve come from the beginning of this program I am amazed. I am about to write a paper that will sum up the end of an amazing journey. That said, this is all so very bittersweet. I think about the research I am doing and how much we count on the legal system to “get it right” that it can seem scary. I have been moved in a different kind of way. A way that is motivating me to do more and advocate for people.
People from the LGBTQ+ communities want to be seen. They want to be heard. They want to be valued. They want to be respected. The people from the LGBTQ+ community are full of the talents many employers look for. They are full of Knowledge, Skills, and the Abilities necessary to get the job done. The difference, they choose to live their lives differently than some, but this does not take away from their talent and eliminating them from the talent pool would be a shame.
As Leaders in the workplace, we should be able to go through Diversity and Inclusion training, educate our staff and be able to consult with the Diversity and Inclusion Officer or Human Resources Department Representative to find out what can be done to make the inclusion and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ happen within the organization. When the concept of acceptance of their presence in the workplace happens, the more unified the organization will be. No one should be judged or ostracized because of a personal choice that has nothing to do with them professionally. Through the Supreme Court ruling in the Bostock v. Clayton County, GA case, in June of 2020, it is considered unlawful for employers to discriminate against an applicant, or an employee, based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. This decision adds them to Title VII protected classes of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Prior to getting this far off into the thick of this paper, my favorite word was “Inspire.” I now have another word that I will include as a favorite... “Acceptance.”
Photo by Steven Kamenar on Unsplash
Way Off... and in the Thick of It © 2023 by Aisha Biggers Tory is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0
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