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

@PPNC It doesn’t make being gay different, it reduces difference.

At the moment lots of gay people have to activelt hide their relationships at work, how many straight people have to do that?

I think the idea is to create an environment where all staff feel able to bring their ‘authentic self’ to work. Line managers will not be asking about sexual orientation or socio-economic background but the BBC wants to have data and hopes in time that senior managers will be from a more diverse range of backgrounds than ‘went to Oxford’ or ‘went to Cambridge’. You only have to look at the output to understand why that is. The BBC doesn’t do change very well, too many turkeys not voting for Christmas in the ranks and too many outraged middle Englanders getting het up. It also cant do right for doing wrong - trouble with the license fee is everyone pays it so the BBC ends up trying to please all of the people at least some of the time but then other bits get pissed off . . . And so it goes.

It's about being able to be yourself in your workplace, surely?

Why should an employee reveal personal information regarding their sexual preferences to their employer?

It's none of their bloody business.

@endlesswicker

Why should an employee reveal personal information regarding their sexual preferences to their employer?

It's none of their bloody business.

So you have never ever mentioned a partner in any way at all at work? You’ve never mentioned any children (if you have them) at work?

@SimonJT Where do you work that you have to remove your wedding ring? And do you have a special wedding ring that says ‘gay’ on it?

I mean come on, let’s at least be realistic. It’s all this shark jumping and hyperbole that’s the whole bloody problem. A few years ago before all this corporate rainbowism, woke quoters and special people demanding unreasonable things in the name and on the back of good will towards LGB people we were making quite good progress. Now we’re having fools made out of us and the whole country’s eyes are rolling.

We dont want to be different, we just want to live our lives in peace, just like everybody else. I’m fucked if my sexual orientation that I can’t help becomes someone else’s woke point.

@FrickinA I’m sure there a lot you find ‘off’ about LGBT issues.

Wow you really have decided completely unfairly that I’m homophobic haven’t you? Completely not noticed other posters who have identified as bi/gay agree with me, or do they hate themselves too.

@SimonJT I agree, hetero, white, 1.5 kids and a Labrador is the norm. Anything outside of that it noticed. I also agree people should feel comfortable to be open should they do choose, it should be so unremarkable as to not be thought of. But how does aiming for 50% of people being out to their boss get them there? There has to be a better way.

If you don’t mind me asking a personal question, I gather from your posts that you don’t feel comfortable being “out” at work? Are you having to hide it? If so would this target make you more likely to be a trailblazer? It wouldn’t make the judgement you fear go away would it? I just want to understand as I put right up front in the post, I could be wrong to be uncomfortable with the approach.

[quote Whatisthisfuckery]@SimonJT Where do you work that you have to remove your wedding ring? And do you have a special wedding ring that says ‘gay’ on it?

I mean come on, let’s at least be realistic. It’s all this shark jumping and hyperbole that’s the whole bloody problem. A few years ago before all this corporate rainbowism, woke quoters and special people demanding unreasonable things in the name and on the back of good will towards LGB people we were making quite good progress. Now we’re having fools made out of us and the whole country’s eyes are rolling.

We dont want to be different, we just want to live our lives in peace, just like everybody else. I’m fucked if my sexual orientation that I can’t help becomes someone else’s woke point.[/quote]
You can pretend homophobia isn’t real as much as you like, but that doesn’t mean its true.

If you want to maintain the status quo go ahead for yourself, don’t force it on others.

At the moment lots of gay people have to activelt hide their relationships at work, how many straight people have to do that?

Tbf if you want to climb the career ladder, change jobs within your company, or take on more responsibility, as a woman of a certain age it’s best to keep quiet about husband and kids.

I realise it’s not the same, and there isn’t the hate that LGB can experience. But people do assume you aren’t committed and will want time off for Christmas plays, leave early for nursery runs etc if they know you have kids. I didn’t tell anyone at work I was married/had kids for over a year, until I knew they’d noted my ability and that I didn’t take more time off etc than married male colleagues....

How would they know when they'd reached the 50% mark?

They don’t want to know about individuals but want to collect data to see who feels happy to work for them. At the moment, for example, working class people don’t, much, hence the question about the occupation of the main breadwinner when you were 14. They don’t care where You are from as an individual but want stats on how many people with non-professional parents they employ.
Of course my sexual orientation is none of my managers business but the workforce of the BBC and where opportunities to work at the BBC go IS the business of the license fee payer - ie YOU dear reader - because you fund it. It’s public money so the BBC is accountable to the public.

@SimonJT Don’t you think a masculine presenting out lesbian might have experienced some homophobia? Stop being obtuse. You said you have take off your wedding ring, why? Does your wedding ring say homo on it? How would anyone know you’re gay from a wedding ring?

‘ Why should an employee reveal personal information regarding their sexual preferences to their employer’

Straight people do. By mentioning their wife or husband in a conversation, or their children, or that they went away for their wedding anniversary or that they’re engaged, or getting married, or maybe divorced or or or... by wearing a wedding ring.
This isn’t about ‘sexual preferences’ - I don’t care if you tie your missus up every week for shits and giggles- but I will know that you have a wife probably.
And gay people Shouldn’t have to hide their home life from the workplace anymore than straight people
Should.

But odd to have a quota for it but surely this is just about having a culture where LGBTQ+ people feel they can be themselves without judgment or recrimination. I don’t really see the problem.

Bit*

@Elletine

As I understand it, it’s about creating a culture where people feel safe to be ‘out’ and bring their whole selves to work. I think it’s fantastic.

I hate that expression "your whole self" as in bring your "whole self" to work.

1. Are you going to just bring half yourself in to work? Maybe half another person?
2. It reminds me of the Hokey Cokey. You put your whole self in, your whole self out?

I just find it really disappointing that this is still an issue at all. I remember talking to a very close friend when we lived in London in the 80s and discussing how he couldn't take his partner to his company's Christmas party or even refer to him when talking about holidays he had been on. I know things have improved since then in some areas but the fact that this is still such an issue 35 years later is quite disheartening.

@Busydoingnowt

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

Yes this what I thought too

[quote Whatisthisfuckery]@SimonJT Don’t you think a masculine presenting out lesbian might have experienced some homophobia? Stop being obtuse. You said you have take off your wedding ring, why? Does your wedding ring say homo on it? How would anyone know you’re gay from a wedding ring?[/quote]
I would assume that when it suddenly appears people ask. Or chat about life outside and do "so what abput the wife" or whatever which would lead to either puting yourself or lying.

Straight people do. By mentioning their wife or husband in a conversation, or their children, or that they went away for their wedding anniversary or that they’re engaged, or getting married, or maybe divorced or or or... by wearing a wedding ring

Some straight people do. My colleagues don’t know that I’m divorced or that I have kids.

But it’s feeling that you have the choice to share or to not share that is important. Being gay and feeling worried about prejudice shouldn’t be a reason not to discuss your personal life at work if you would otherwise want to.

I have never ever said to management in work what my sexuality is. Ever. Yes they know I have a child as they need to know that (schools shut, child being unwell etc). Me having a child does not say anything about my sexuality.

@Jumpers268

I have never ever said to management in work what my sexuality is. Ever. Yes they know I have a child as they need to know that (schools shut, child being unwell etc). Me having a child does not say anything about my sexuality.

If they find out will you continue to be treated fairly by staff? Will you be subjected to verbal abuse? Will you no longer be considered for promotion or a pay increase?

I have seen gay people at the BBC be cagey about who their partner is, especially when new to a team. I assume that it's because not everyone has always been accepting. I have also seen homophobia there. Good for them, trying to improve things. Nobody should have to weigh up whether it's a good idea to mention their partner's name or not.

‘
I have never ever said to management in work what my sexuality is. Ever. Yes they know I have a child as they need to know that (schools shut, child being unwell etc). Me having a child does not say anything about my sexuality.’

Right, but they and most people will assume you’re straight. So you get a pass.
If you’re single, sure maybe it never comes up. So long as you never talk about an ex, or dating etc.
But LGBT shouldn’t have to feel like they need to keep their home life under wraps because of the consequences a d that’s what not being out a work generally is. Keeping it under wraps to avoid consequences. Rather than because you’re incredibly private.

People have lots of reasons for choosing to be private
eg
their partner works in a less tolerant environment
or
their family do not like the person they live with
etc
no employer has the right to pressure people