Sexual orientation, stigma & job loss part 2

In part one of this post as carried on my sister blog GLBTQ Jamaica (blogger) we looked at same gender loving women who have made it known to me and others what their experiences have been like, regrettably the vast majority of posts on LGBTQI life in Jamaica on this blog and my other blogs have been negative as the realities bring to bear that we have a very long way to go some semblance of stability on the rock. In that first post I looked at three same gender loving sisters who were separated from their jobs according to their own accounts due to stigma and discrimination of their perceived sexual orientation, the sole male victim also related his account and asked it be also highlighted in the post excerpted below:

"................................The sole male complainant said he was uncomfortable from the get go at his job as the curious looks and questions such as his care in putting himself together suggesting he must be gay as only gay men take time to be detailed in personal grooming, the subtle remarks similar to our same gender loving sister above also dogged him for some time as other male employees would pounce on him with remarks pertaining to relationships and sex with girls comments to which he may casually try to fit in the conversation to avoid the unneeded scrutiny but it was clear the gossip mill was on.

Things came to a head however when the anti gay sentiments were stepped up with one particular coworker levelling them squarely at him and as time passed he noticed the supervisor also going in that general direction as well, he was dismissed on trumped up third strike grounds that went against his employment record he said as he was late on particular morning and all kinds of "faults" suddenly appeared from nowhere, luckily for him he managed to land another job just some weeks after that separation but not all persons who face this kind of stigma are so lucky or are strong enough to deal with or confront their detractors."

Since then two other same gender loving males upon seeing that original post have come forward with their accounts (other accounts have been shared privately but those persons are not willing to have them shared as reference on this platform) but when asked if they took the matter in hand either via the Ministry of Labour, their unions or JFLAG, Jamaica Forum for Lesbians Allsexuals and Gays who now have a lawyer on retainer the persons felt that they would not have reached anywhere and also that they were not trusting of the latter option, an expression I hear more and more coming from persons on the ground. This trust issue is a major concern if we are going to have proper advocacy.

Account 1
A former call centre employee who felt he was separated from his job due to jealousy of his rapid advancement in the organization and other employees commenting on his effeminate attitude which was much cause of unease to him on a daily basis as things got more complicated with co workers shunning him and even avoid sitting near to him in the cafeteria. Similar to a previous story related he too was summarily relieved of duties as so called infractions on his personal file was brought to bear to fall the axe. He has since found new employment as he had started the search before the action was taken, a smart proactive move on his part.

Account 2

A bearer of a small company and as we have it here in Jamaica the homosocial way we gather as men to discuss women, sex and other matters determines how one is viewed in the collective to measure ones masculinity, he could produce stories of sexual conquest with women as the other men could thus the ostracism began and speculation he was gay, this was taken to the owner of the business over time and the owner was said to have made snide remarks in his presence that he wants to battyman around him, things finally came to when an argument between the bearer and a female employee who is said to be a favourite of the "boss" resulted in his dismissal without question and he had to wait some two weeks after to receive his pay when he threatened to take the matter to the Ministry of Labour (only done to shake up the boss)

These incidents suggest to me that there are several others like this that may have gone unreported to myself and elsewhere as persons may choose to absorb the loss and move on. Unlike the public sector that is governed by staff orders that has within it grounds for dismissal and discrimination based on sexual orientation an infraction.

The government services however does has some level of protection, under Section 13 of the staff orders paper covering Equal Opportunity it states Employees should be treated fairly on

the grounds of

1) Race

2) Gender

3) National Origin

4) Colour

5) Religious beliefs

6) Political affiliation

7) Disability

8) and last but by no means least Sexual Orientation

one of the few progressive documents that exists that deals directly with Sexual Orientation and possible sanctions from damage from such if deemed discriminatory

So we are pushed aside yet still in Jamaica eh?

Peace and tolerance

H