THE BENEFITS OF COMING OUT AT WORK AND WHAT TO CONSIDER FIRST

May 18

Coming out involves telling others about your sexual orientation or gender identity, and it can be a tricky process to navigate. This is especially true when it comes to the workplace. Confiding in close friends and family is one thing, but telling those you work with can feel intimidating.

The unknown is always scary. It can be challenging to decide when to come out and who to come out to.

Maybe not all of your coworkers will accept you as you are, but great things can come from telling those around you about this part of yourself.

As the Human Rights Campaign explains, coming out at work can take away the stress of having to hide who you are each day. Once you embrace the most authentic version of yourself at work, there is more room to build strong supportive relationships. Coming out at work removes the need to hide who you are and allows space for your career to flourish.

There are a few things you should look into before coming out to work.

In our society, it is vital to assess the atmosphere within your workplace before coming out. The HRC Foundation created a list of questions to ask first, including:

Is there a written non-discrimination policy in place?
Is there a non-discrimination law that includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression in your state?
What is the climate like at work? Do people speak kindly of the LGBTQ+ community, or do they make hateful comments and rude jokes?
Are there other LGBTQ+ people at work?
Is there an LGBTQ+ resource group within your workplace?

There are other things to consider, but this is a great place to start. Getting a feel for your environment is essential.

How to come out at work.

There is more than one way to come out. Some people come into their jobs exactly as they are and skip this process entirely. Others may choose to mention this part of themselves early on in conversations. It is also okay to pick and choose coworkers to come out to. Sometimes certain coworkers make it clear they are accepting and inclusive, while others do the opposite.

There are many different ways to come out at work. You could have other coworkers handle it for you or go straight to someone in a position towards the top. This person could be a manager or someone in the HR department. Some people feel more secure coming out at work when they already have the support of those in powerful positions.

There is no rush in coming out, and it is entirely okay if you prefer not to do so at all. Whether or not you want to come out in the workplace is a decision you need to make. You do not owe anyone an explanation of your identity, but offering one can make you feel more comfortable being who you are. Confiding in your coworkers can also lead to love and acceptance.