BBC wants 50% of LGBT staff to be “out”

[PPNC]

The new BBC diversity plan wants at least 50% of LGBT staff to be “out” to their boss. AIBU to think this is regressive and insane?

Why should I (if I were both gay and worked at the BBC), say “hey boss person, I like shagging other women!”. Why are they asking instead of aiming for it not mattering who I choose to bump uglies with,
as it doesn’t affect my ability to do my job and is not really anybody else’s business?

Fully happy to be re-educated and told that A - the DM have read it wrong (as they are an agitator totally possible), or B - it’s essential for equality.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9295787/amp/BBCs-diversity-directive-Director-Tim-Davie-launches-bottom-shake-up.html

@Busydoingnowt

How will they ever know? If people aren’t out no one knows they’re gay so how can they be counted?

It’s not simply “I’m shagging other women”, no need to be so crude. He simply wants to show that the BBC is a diverse company and embraces diversity. While I agree your sexuality is your private life - you shouldn’t feel like you have to hide it because you’re worried of how others might perceive you. They want to create an environment where you can openly say I’m LGBT and not face discrimination.

Those who are saying it’s none of their employer’s business are right however if you face discrimination at work because of your sexuality, I’m sure you’d want your employer to help you.

@PPNC I didn’t say it defines people, and the BBC don’t seem to be saying that either?

Exactly what @Hairbrush123 said! ^

I wonder how many heterosexuals think this is a good thing compared to how many lesbians and gay men think this is a good thing?

I’m pretty sure most of the lesbians and gay men I know would say they just want to go to work and do their job without a fuss.

Heterosexuals really need to stop telling us what’s good for us.

I hate all this "bring your whole self to work". Some people's whole selves are arseholes. I'm quite happy to share minimal information with my colleagues. I don't care either way who my colleagues are sleeping with (as long as it's with consenting adults). But if they start talking about sexuality, what's next? Their thoughts on veganism, HS2 and Brexit? No thanks - keep your whole self at home!

The workplace can be very lonely if you feel you can’t be yourself- even just something small like having a photo of your partner up (something straight people wouldn’t hesitate to do if photos are permitted). To be able to do something like that in the workplace and know you won’t be judged negatively means a lot. Remember a lot of us had the hell bullied out of us at school for being gay; we don’t have the luxury of saying ‘why does it matter’.

I do think it’s astounding that someone would start an AIBU saying that they don’t think half of the gay people working at the BBC should feel safe and comfortable enough at work to be open about their personal life.
I mean, seriously, how does this affect you OP? Why do you give a shiny??

@Gormless I don’t think anybody is arguing for discrimination and alienation. It’s perfectly possible to fell comfortable being out in one’s work without your being out being a tick in a diversity box. Being truly accepted means not being a diversity tick, it just means being a regular staff member, doing your job, chatting to colleagues if you want to and not being an exception.

I wonder how many 100% straight people would be happy to to declare their affairs or weekend Tinder antics to their boss on a Monday morning? Or if they choose not to in fear of being judged or perhaps, y’know in order to maintain a bit of discretion as professional adult people. Some things are just not to be shared with everybody. For me this is one of them.

@Gormless exactly right. This rubbish about “why can’t heterosexuals do this or that blah blah blah”... last time I checked - they haven’t been persecuted by society and face unfair advantages for something they cannot help! Kudos to the BBC for trying creating a safe environment.

@FrickinA Please can you quote the bit where OP has said she doesn’t want gay people to feel comfortable in their workplace? There are lesbians as well BTW, not just gay men.

‘ I wonder how many 100% straight people would be happy to to declare their affairs or weekend Tinder antics to their boss on a Monday morning?’

Sorry, what now? WTF are you on...

It’s lip service. It’s nonsense. A person’s own private sexuality is not something for their employer to use in order to point score.

Oh bullshit @FrickinA I haven’t started an AIBU about half of gay people shouldn’t feel comfortable and safe

I think everyone should feel safe and free to disclose as much or as little about themselves in total freedom at work as they choose and not be judged for it, or have it affect your work.

I just don’t think some target on driving outness to a boss is a progressive or well thought out measure.

It makes being gay different and measured and feels just off to me. Should we not be striving for it just not to bloody matter, there has to be better ways than, as @Whatisthisfuckery says, checking a woke tick box.

I hate it but feel through this constant drive to differentiate and be “careful” we are driving ourselves in the opposite direction. I know for absolute sure that’s my ex and my kids have faced far more racism now people feel pressured to be oh so very cautious about their privilege, than ever when it was a natural community rejection of outdated racist views and towards a more inclusive and fairer future.

Maybe I’m not so good at articulating it, but the whole thing just sits wrong with me.

Out of interest OP, the Fail also days 80% of staff will have to ‘declare’ their social status. All true I’m sure. Wouldn’t that be a more relevant AIBU for you and Moore of MN?

‘ It makes being gay different and measured and feels just off to me.’

Being gay is different, which is why so many people in our community are hiding their personal lives from work colleagues. I’m sure there a lot you find ‘off’ about LGBT issues.

@FrickinA

I do think it’s astounding that someone would start an AIBU saying that they don’t think half of the gay people working at the BBC should feel safe and comfortable enough at work to be open about their personal life. I mean, seriously, how does this affect you OP? Why do you give a shiny??

Oh, come on, that's unfair.

It's possible to feel this is a really clumsy idea, which is likely to backfire, and also to feel everyone should feel safe and comfortable to be open about their personal life.

I dont understand why its any of their bosses business what their sexuality is so long as they are doing their job ffs will we all have to declare hetro or bi as well. I don't understand why people think its any of their business gah

So clumsy.’ LGBT people,We want you to feel as comfortable and open here as the straight staff. ‘

Cue people posting about shagging and Tinder...

@FrickinA

So clumsy.’ LGBT people,We want you to feel as comfortable and open here as the straight staff. ‘

Cue people posting about shagging and Tinder...

Are you really saying that any LGBT-related initiative is acceptable because people elsewhere are being homophobic?

That's a very low bar for LGBT equality.

@BigHandsomeBeast

I wonder how many 100% straight people would be happy to to declare their affairs or weekend Tinder antics to their boss on a Monday morning? Or if they choose not to in fear of being judged or perhaps, y’know in order to maintain a bit of discretion as professional adult people. Some things are just not to be shared with everybody. For me this is one of them.

So everyone in your work place makes sure to remove their wedding ring and has to hide the fact they’re married? People in relationships who aren’t married have to pretend to be single?

Weird how people only promote hiding who you are when that means hiding being gay.

What relevance does tinder have? Or do you just enjoy being homophobic and reducing gay peoples relationships?

@Krieger

I find the short version of the article title in the link quite amusing. If he is launching a bottom shake up it is bound to flush out the gays.

Further homophobia.

‘ Weird how people only promote hiding who you are when that means hiding being gay. ’

Yup. What OP and loads of other poster don’t realise is that there’s no need for you to tell your boss your straight, it’s the assumption.
Hands up how many straight people here are hiding their heterosexual relationship or family or the fact they are married to someone of the opposite sex or have kids to their colleagues?