Homophobia
Posted: Wed 27 April, 2005 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Thoughts, Work-related |5 Comments »I do wonder sometimes whether workplaces are just an extension of school playgrounds.
A couple of the people at work are trying to annoy another colleague by making out he’s gay. I’m sorry, what century are we in? So they’re planning to leave a copy of Gay Times or similar on the guy’s desk. I don’t see the point in it, or the humour – it’s just dull, small-minded, and hypocritical. The people involved annoy me, and leave me stunned by their pettiness.
The defining moment though came at the end of the conversation…
There’s only one flaw in the plan though.
What’s that?
Well, I’m not going to go and buy it. Are you?
Hmm, see your point.
We’ve come a long way…
I’ve got a big bugbear about that sort of behaviour. I was a victim of something similar in my first job, and – well, let’s just say it fucked up most of my 20s. If I could go back in time, I’d explain a few things to my younger self. And I’d find the guys involved and give them a serious piece of my mind. And possibly fists.
“Copy of Gay Times please. Er, it’s not for me, it’s for my boyfriend… Oh, fucksticks.”
How old are your colleagues? 12?
That sort of behaviour is very schoolground, it’s called bullying, I believe. And I’m betting it doesn’t make the atmosphere in the place a very nice one, even if you’re not on the end of their stick. Arseholes, see if you can sneakily get them back, such as placing a personal ad in Attitude with their work phone number on it. mwahahaha.
Have you told them how you feel about it, or stuck up for the guy?
A lot of times it just takes one person to speak out against that sort of thing before they’ll stop.