Overcoming Discrimination and Navigating LGBTQ+ Identity in University and Beyond

Tommy Gough, Associate in Kroll’s Forensic Investigations and Intelligence team, spoke to myGwork about his experience of identifying as LGBTQ+ in university, and the connection between coming out in education and the workplace. He also shares advice and top tips for LGBTQ+ students making the often-intimidating journey into the professional world.

Please introduce yourself, the name of your organisation and the university you attended.

Hi! My name is Tommy Gough, and I have been working as an Associate in Kroll’s Forensic Investigations and Intelligence team since July 2022. I studied Modern Languages at Durham University for my bachelor’s degree then completed a master’s in Chinese Studies at the University of Oxford.

When in university, were you out to your university friends and/or your teachers? If yes, how important was that for you?

Yes. I came out towards the end of high school and chose to be open about my sexuality at university, both at Durham and at Oxford. It was a personal decision to come out in school and a lot of LGBTQ+ people I know came out in their 20s. However, arriving at university already out strengthened me with the confidence of knowing my true self, and as a result, freed me from the pressure to mask myself. Not everyone who is out will have had the same experience that I did during their university years, but I was fortunate to join a (mostly) welcoming environment where the majority of the student population were tolerant. It was especially important for me to feel comfortable with my sexuality in front of my professors, as I spent most of my time studying queer experiences: film, literature, politics, history, sociology – everything! Consequently, it was vital that my teachers understood what had drawn me to my research focus and could respect my decision to study these topics. Had I been less open about my identity before my teachers, I would have found it more challenging to openly explore the subjects I was interested in.

Have you ever experienced discrimination from your fellow students and/or teachers?

Yes, and unfortunately, this is more common than people outside the LGBTQ+ community realise. While I have never been discriminated against by a member of any faculty at university, I have been the recipient of prejudiced and homophobic comments made by students on more than one occasion. During my undergraduate years, there were, sadly, several bigoted and hostile students. Fortunately, at the time of my master’s degree, I was at a postgraduate college where most of the intake were liberal and mature enough to be accepting of others and open-minded towards what they did not understand.

Do you feel your university supported LGBTQ+ students?

Most universities have societies and groups for LGBTQ+ students to gather and organize events, and I was fortunate to participate in various queer, student-led events. These groups are often well-connected with support services and other resources to help LGTBQ+ students if they experience any problems. That said, I think that there probably could have been more visibility for the different support channels LGBTQ+ students can access, as often it can feel like other members of the community are the only points of contact. In my experience, LGBTQ+ people are often less likely to seek out support, so universities need to be aware of that when thinking of strategies to make sure vulnerable members of the community know that support is available.

Do you feel that your university prepares you for what is to come as a future professional and a member of the LGBTQ+ community?

I think institutions like universities are often focus on the slightly more extreme scenarios, like how to deal with being a victim of direct homophobic abuse at work. However, in my experience of different corporate cultures, this is no longer the most prevalent means of undermining LGBTQ+ people in the workplace. In my view, universities could prepare LGTBQ+ students to be aware that discrimination is much more likely to happen without their knowing.

This is obviously a lot trickier to deal with, as often people’s prejudices may manifest very subtly, like progressing slower than other members of the team, receiving smaller bonuses or less enticing pay rises, being delegated duller tasks or projects. Universities also typically work with large companies to help them recruit students for grad schemes, and these companies often have poor diversity and representation, especially at the senior level. Universities could do more to help queer people be aware of the fact that upon leaving the university environment, they are often likely to end up somewhere where they are less represented if they choose a corporate career.

Are you out in your new job? If yes, was that the case from the start?

Yes – seeing as I have been out for so long, I did not think it necessary to conceal this when I started at Kroll. I didn’t ‘come out’ as such but felt comfortable talking about my same-sex partner in front of colleagues from the beginning.

How did you first come out at work and to who?

Probably my friend and teammate, who started on the same day as me!

In your opinion, how connected is coming out while in university to being out in the workplace?

It is very connected. It depends on where you end up working, but I think that most people who are already out at university will remain out in their workplace. Coming out can be a difficult experience, but I think most LGBTQ+ feel more comfortable about it after doing it the first few times! As a result, it’s typically less challenging to disclose this information when starting your career if already out.

Before applying for a job, do you check their diversity and inclusion policies?

Yes and no – a lot of companies have standard copy when advertising roles, which helps them seem inclusive. In reality, this doesn’t always mean that they have a diverse workforce, and in some cases could even mean the opposite and they may be hiring minorities specifically to fill that void. However, it can serve as a form of reassurance for LGBTQ+ individuals when looking for their next career to see companies openly stating their DE&I policies. In my opinion, it could be more effective to check if the company has a dedicated DE&I team, what their agenda is and what kind of achievements they have made on behalf of the company.

Are there any LGBTQ+ networks within your organisation? If yes, are you an active member?

Yes – Kroll does have an active, employee-led LGBTQ+ network, with members from all over the world. I have attended one of their meetings and will hopefully be able to get more involved in the future when I am more experienced and confident in my primary responsibilities.

From your experience so far, do you have any advice to share with students before they go into the workplace?

Always do your research into any prospective future employers. Most big companies will make any declarations about diversity, equity and inclusion public, so information about any policies that affect LGBTQ+ people should be accessible. Some smaller companies may not be as open and may lack the resources to commit fully to fostering safe, positive working environments for LGBTQ+ people, but in most cases, you should be able to contact members of your potential future team or HR with any questions you may have, general or LGBTQ+-related.

I think it’s also important to be aware that there may be challenges in your career because of your gender or sexual identity, and familiarizing yourself with the support available to you at your next job in advance will hopefully help to mitigate any potential adversities. However, sometimes, you may have to be your own advocate: not every employer will be as understanding of LGBTQ+ issues, and they may not have sufficient resources in place to support you. In these cases, don’t be afraid to challenge the status quo and see how you can not only help yourself, but other LGBTQ+ people at your company.