How to come out at work

Despite the progress made over the last decade, LGBT+ people still face discrimination in their daily lives and at work. According to recent studies by TUC more than one in three LGBT+ people experience homophobic harassment or bullying at work. While only half of LGBT+ people are out in the workplace. For most people, coming out at work is no small feat. Here are our tips on how to make the process easier:

1. Start small, and with the people, you’re already friends with

If your goal is to make meaningful connections at work and show a real side of yourself to colleagues, don’t start with a big dramatic announcement, talk with the people you’ve built relationships with, work it into the conversation. Once you have the support of one or two people at work telling others will only be easier.

2. Think about what you’re going to say

It’s not a bad idea to run through the conversation a few times in your head so you don’t blurt it out. Figure out an ice-breaker, or natural way to bring it up. Who you’re bringing to the Christmas party, or who you’d like to bring. Keep it professional, and have a plan.

3. Don’t get inside your own head

Fearing rejection or a negative reaction can often make you overthink things, or psych yourself out. Most of the time no one is going to really care if you are LGBT+, try not to build it up in your head too much. Remember that you set the tone for this conversation, getting stressed and anxious beforehand will make those you’re talking to get stressed and anxious as well. Keep calm and friendly.

4. Remind yourself why you’re coming out

Coming out can be scary at the best of times. You have to stay strong and remind yourself why you’re doing this. Maybe you’re tired of having to lie about what bar you went to on the weekend, or what date you can bring to a corporate function, or maybe you just want to build strong, genuine relationships with people at work – something that is necessary for networking and progression.

Unfortunately, coming out is never a once and done process, you’re going to have to do it over and over again, especially in a professional environment. It might sound like tough love, but it’s something you might as well get good at doing now. The more you do it, the more confident you’ll be next time, you may not be able to control people’s reactions, but you’ll at least be able to control how you feel.

Tim Gibson - myGwork

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