Internet rallies around guy who was outed at work by a coworker
Being outed can be a traumatic event for LGBTQ individuals, and it’s especially bad when personal details become water cooler chatter in the workplace.
One Reddit user revealed in the r/gay forum earlier this month that he was “beyond pissed off” because a coworker outed him to a new employee that day.“He was showing the new person around, introducing them to everyone, and when they got to me, he told them my name and added, ‘I don’t know if it matters to you or not, but he’s gay,’” this user wrote.He went on: “It is my choice and your choice who you come out to.
No one, [not] even family, has the right to out you without your permission. I am not ashamed of who I am, but I prefer to know someone better before telling them my sexuality.
I did not know this person’s belief on LGBTQIA [identities] or anything. When someone does that, they put you at risk. When I had a moment to talk to my coworker, I did so with management present so they would know how serious this is. … Everyone, and I mean everyone, has a right to privacy, especially when it comes to sexuality and gender.”Related: He got his workplace harasser fired, and the harasser’s response was a total shockIn the comments, the outed guy said that his company is family-owned and doesn’t have an HR department, but he said that management at the company reprimanded the coworker in question.And other Reddit users commiserated in the comment sections. “I understand how you feel, and things should not be this way.
