To think this isn’t appropriate work conversation?

[AllIDoIsFloat]

Sat at work and on my lunch break while two colleagues discuss that they are anti-LGBT. In its entirety. They believe lesbians and gay people are going against “gods will” and that trans people are just mentally unwell and the surgery should be illegal.

Now I’m somewhat gender critical myself but certainly don’t believe that the surgery should be illegal. And in any event, I don’t think it’s appropriate for work? They don’t know what other people are going through, how they or their family identify. It just makes me sad that they think this is appropriate. I’m

That “ might “ be seen as a hate crime? Are you serious??? What on earth do you think would need to happen to a gay person at work to qualify unequivocally as a hate crime?

What blows my mind is that I’ve seen people up in arms over being called a Karen, and that being a hate crime, but homophobia is apparently just part of the fabric of our society. Barely even noticed.

Regardless of what they have said (different people will have different views), you are wrong about the work premises stuff.

I work in HR and this is classed as the workplace (unpaid break or not). Have you any idea how many people end up in a disciplinary from attending works parties that aren’t even held on work premises, no one is being paid and it’s out of works time?

'Anti LGBT'.
No decent human can justify being 'anti' someone simply based on who they're attracted to, that's definitely treating an LGB person disrespectfully.

Saying you don’t agree with people’s sexuality is hateful.

Let these kind of threads be a reminder to us as that we need to continue to fight for people’s rights. I think we’ve become so used to tolerance that we forget it’s something people need to actively choose. Sadly, many people are raised in hateful, divisive environments and then go on to spread this.

This kind of hatred and ignorance isn’t acceptable.

This 100% 🩷

Surely a hate crime needs a crime to have happened?

It isn’t criminal to say ‘being gay is against God’s will’.
It is discrimination to treat people differently- to refuse to make a cuppa for a gay person because ‘being gay is against God’s will’.
It’s a crime to hit someone.
It’s a hate crime if you hit someone because they are gay.

I agree as well.

I am shocked and disappointed at some of the homophobic comments on here, and the justification of "freedom of speech" as an excuse to be hateful.

I too think think the balance of free speech is tricky. We are all have free thoughts, no one can stop those. The views these colleagues have is their own and they are entitled to these. However, discussing them in a place of work is ill advised in the first instance. I would say that any political, contentious view in the workplace is ill advised - so if the discussions was about the boats and immigration, the same would apply. However discussions outside work of this nature and having these views is their own choice

Yet another thread where religion is the issue.

I don’t agree with the stuff about being gay, but they’re right on the trans stuff imo.

I think the reason why people feel comfortable saying this shit at work has been made worse by being made to attend workshops where we are told we must accept women are men, use their incorrect pronouns and share a toilet with them just because a man decides he’s a woman or else risk being disciplined. When companies have forced this on employees, some people are going to talk about it.

Other than dealing with anyone who is discriminatory at work, why should we have to listen about LGBT in special mandatory workshops, which let’s be honest is only ever about the T. The LGB people are completely ignored whilst we listen about Dereks journey into becoming Angel and how he felt the first time he put a dress on. Yes, I had to sit through that!!! Meanwhile a lesbian that had worked at the company for 10 years and had had to report men for saying crude comments about her sexuality, on more than one occasion, which the company tried to minimise, was told there was no time for her to speak. 🤔

⬆️ This.

Oh for god's sake it's not hateful. It's just a different view.

That is a position I whole heartedly disagree with. But here's the thing. If your workplace has rainbow flags, and celebrates pride and pronounces trans women are women, this is arguably them taking a political position. This then opens the door to people expressing other political opinions, as long as they are lawful.

I am not a lawyer, but I suspect that it would be lawful to say something like, on religious grounds I believe homosexuality to be sinful. What would not be lawful would be to say to or about a gay colleague that they are disgusting because they are gay.

In efforts to be more inclusive many workplaces have inadvertently taken what could be considered as political positions. When this happens, it automatically opens the door to others expressing potentially opposing political positions.

We need to move towards more neural workplaces, where employers rigorously enforce equality and employment law, but stay out of political discourse.

You’ve extrapolated this based on what exactly? So it coincides with your world view?

These people believe gay people are against gods will. Nothing to do with trans people.

And that wouldn’t excuse it any ways.

A different point of view on the existence of gay people.

No one chooses their sexuality so how is this a
“ difference of opinion “?

You’re insulting the way someone was born.

Lots of 'different views' are actually hateful, motivated by the idea that you think you live your life in a better way than someone else lives theirs. To be 'anti' someone else's sexuality, when it's natural, legal and none of your business is utterly ridiculous. Religion has done more harm than homosexuality ever has.

It’s like believe women with red hair are all witches. It’s utter nonsense hiding behind a religion.

I think the bad feeling in the pit of your stomach is because you sat there without speaking your true feelings.

If they were saying this about a staff member or customer, then I’d consider reporting it. But this was a conversation amongst adults in the workplace. How annoying for HR to have to police everyone “kindness” like you’re all in pre-school.

Lots of nonsense hides behind religion, sadly.

Were they at their work desk?
Is their work space accessable to the public, or clients or is it a quiet corner?
Or were they out having lunch together in the lunch room or park.
Either way what they said was inappropriate because, depending on who over heard them, it could have been unkind and caused distress.

That is how you should describe their conversation when YOU intentionally speak to them about how you heard them and felt uncomfortable.
It needs calling out, at the time.

If such opinions are voiced regulary for others to hear then you need to speak up.

If it is common place in an actual open plan work place then I would bring it to a manager's attention.

Why do people need to judge others ,who cares if someone is gay or trans . Let people live the lives they want and be happy .By the way if i had heard this i would of said something,no one should have to listen to stupid opinions like that.

They're openly voicing it, at work.