My Boss

[mrsconfused]

So, remember when Meredith Baxter told everyone on TV that she is a lesbian? She told everyone that she realized it 7 years ago. To me, this means that maybe she somehow deep down knew it for a long time, but only admitted it to herself 7 years ago. Well, my boss (who is a minster's wife coincidently...) came out of her office to tell us this, and she goes, "She just found out 7 years ago? Well, this tells me that sure aren't born that way and that they can choose this lifestyle!" I just stared at her with my mouth open and couldn't say anything. I could not believe she said that! It's one thing to state those types of opinions at home or church, but at work?? She has no idea how much that hurt me (and maybe even offended me) since I have a family member who is gay. I just don't get it. How do you deal with this type of bigotry at work?

[starcrossedsarah]

I hate it when bosses do stuff like that. Co-workers, you can just kinda say, "Oh, where are you getting your information?" but bosses? Not so much. If it's directly harassing or offensive, you can talk to HR, but that was just borderline, wasn't it? I don't know. I may just let that one go and come gripe here. I know its frustrating!

[mrsconfused]

Oh yeah, I'm not going to HR with this one. If she ever said something to a student or another staff member, I would. I'm just griping here

[Laura]

This is why I like being a student/writer. If someone says something I don't like, I can call them on it. I've never worked in an office like that, so I am woefully unqualified to give advice. I do know it's frustrating to feel like you can't say what you really think. I think that's why bosses should be very careful to not say personal things like that. I don't know. This is a tough one.

[rosa]

I would find another job, but I know that's not always possible.

Every place I've worked there have been lots of gay people - my last job before this one, the only club bigger than the gay employees club was the retirees.

[mrsconfused]

Ah, I can't find a new job. This one will lead to many opportunities down the road so I just suck it up and move on with my day. When she says things like that I just don't say anything. Sigh...

[rosa]

Sucks

On one of the frugality blogs I read, the blogger posted a thing he got from one of the business books he read, about being transparent & including useful work people in your social life/church life/facebook/whatever.

Interestingly, in the comments, all the men thought that was a great idea and the only people who posted contrarily were women. I'm sure that's not true outside of blogland - i had a boss who made the mistake of giving us all the myspace page for his band, one time, and got mocked forever over it, and I hope he's learned his lesson.

But there's a reason for work/life separation; it lets us work with people we disagree with.

[Nora]

That sucks. It's a really tough when it's your boss like that, because you can't exactly call her out on her shit.

I know how you feel. Since no one is allowed to be openly gay in Navy, people seem to think it's okay to be open anti-gay. I really feel for all the hidden homosexuals in the Navy who must be so hurt by the jokes and offhand comments that people make all the time.

[juliet]

Dec 21, 2009 11:16:04 GMT -6 rosa said:

On one of the frugality blogs I read, the blogger posted a thing he got from one of the business books he read, about being transparent & including useful work people in your social life/church life/facebook/whatever.

And, we must not forget to appreciate the "useful idiots" in our lives.