Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and TransgenderedHealth Science Librarians
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual
and Transgendered
"OUT AT WORK" READY TO ROLL
by Denis Gaffney (with finishing -- and *controlling* -- touches by Jean Sullivant)
After months of planning, head scratching, and soliciting suggestions, Jean Sullivant and I have finally put the finishing touches to our MLA program. Keep your schedules open for Tuesday, 4 June, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., when the SIG program: "Out at Work" will be presented in cooperation with the Relevant Issues Section (for whose co-sponsorship we are grateful). The session will be moderated by your correspondent, Denis Gaffney of SUNY Brooklyn.
We have been fortunate in getting the participation of Dr. David Barnett, Acting Director of the Office of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Concerns at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who will speak on: "Coming Out in the Workplace." David will introduce some of the complexities involved in coming out at work; it is often not as clear-cut a decision as we might like to think. Other factors may be involved in discrimination, such as race, class or parenthood status. Unlike other situations where a person's status is sometimes obvious -- e.g., race -- the lesbian, gay or bisexual person can choose what, if any, level of disclosure s/he will offer. Some of the issues David will touch on include: the cold facts of external oppression; different attitudes between partners; decisions to make regarding disclosure. Every negative situation you find yourself in at work may not be homophobic in nature; you shouldn't demean your sexuality by using it as a crutch. Being aware of internalized homophobia - your own and that of other LesBiGays - is important, as is sexual harassment, if it is present.
Arthur Downing, Librarian of the New York Academy of Medicine, will speak on: "Placing Management Issues for Gay Men and Lesbians in Context." Management issues relevant to gay men and lesbians need to be seen as part of the continuum of issues relating to all employees, including other disadvantaged minorities. In many cases, workplace issues that are considered "neutral" need to be interpreted with special reference to gay and lesbian employees. Arthur has told me that he has dealt with almost every conceivable situation that can come up with lesbian and gay workers.
Our third speaker, offering her own very personal perspective on these issues, will be our co-chair, Sally Harvey, now of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Library, Dallas TX. Sally's topic will be: "Out at Work? One Lesbian's Experience." Sally will talk about the stress involved in working (formerly) in a very closeted atmosphere. Lesbianism affects one's life profoundly, so that any work situation in which it is discounted or not respected, causes the whole psyche to suffer. In being out, we bring our whole being to the job, including our strengths and creativity, and can focus all our energies on the task at hand.
It sounds as though we will have an interesting session. Such provoking and challenging topics and situations! We hope you will all be there and that we will have even better attendance than last year! This session promises to be one of the highlights of your MLA - Kansas City - 1996 experience. With such wonderful people as speakers and friends, how can we fail?
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