Sexual orientation discrimination in the workplace exists, according to a survey

This past June, the U.S. supreme court ruled that same-sex marriage become legal in all 50 states. This was a huge change for not only the LBGT community but for American society as a whole.

Nevertheless, those who are gay or lesbian are being treated unfairly in their respective places of employment according to a study.

In a recent Pew Research Center survey of 1,197 LGBT adults, one-in-five say that they have been treated unfairly by an employer because of their sexual orientation.

The fact that same-sex couples can be recognized as husband and husband or wife and wife now is just. However, workplace discrimination is an issue that they still may encounter and have to deal with.

“I think the statistics are this way because there are sadly still so many people with a backwards mindset,” Jake Verterano, vice president of marketing at the Pi Dental Center and Cabrini College alumnus, said. “It’s just people never maturing or being exposed to gay people.”

Even as the years progress and society becomes more accepting, there are still some who choose to discriminate.

“A lot of it stems from people being uncomfortable with it,” Andrew Halstead, admissions counselor, said.

One comes to work simply to do their job to the best of their ability. Who they choose to get intimate with in their personal free time should not play a factor in the workplace but sadly, in America, it does.

The study also stated that 57 percent of LGBT adults said that equal employment rights should remain a “top priority.”

In late 2013, according to an article by pbs.org, the 19-year-old Employment Non-Discrimination Act was heading to congress once again to outlaw workplace discrimination against LGBT adults based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

For some, the thought of same-sex orientation discrimination occurring in the workplace may have never crossed their mind but trust that it has and is still occurring.

“I once applied for a volunteer position with mentoring youth and was asked my sexual orientation on the interview,” Verterano said. “I was a bit perplexed why that was even being asked as it’s basically illegal to inquire about that.”

“After my interview I never heard back from the organization so I followed up with them with a phone call asking what the plan was,” Verterano said. “I was told I was not a candidate because of my sexual orientation, being told that it would make children and parents uncomfortable.”

“Seriously? Just because I’m gay. I honestly have no idea what the issue was, considering I had experience in child care as well and seemed like an ideal candidate,” Verterano said. “I was very hurt the organization turned me down just because I’m gay.”

Situations such as the one that Verterano went through are downright wrong.

America is known as ‘the land of the free’ but employers are somehow getting away with this type of bigotry. Inequalities such as this must cease to exist or as a nation we will never progress. People will be to busy being prejudice over something so diminutive and will lose focus of the important ongoing issues.

If working with or having a gay person work for you makes you feel uncomfortable, imagine how it makes that person feel. As humans we must have more compassion for one another.

Fortunately, at Cabrini, any type of discrimination in the workplace, including same-sex, does not exist and is not tolerated.

Upon acquiring a position at the college, each employee must go through ‘Cabrini safe-zone training.’

“Being the fact that it is a small Catholic college, I was blown away that every faculty member has to go through that training,” Halstead said. “It is very good to make sure that everyone is on the same page and that everyone of various backgrounds and fields is welcomed, that being sexual-orientation included.”

Safe-zone training is a workshop that trains faculty and staff to promote an environment that is safe for everyone. The training is held once every semester.

“I was very shocked when I came here, it was very open,” Halstead said.

Eventually, workplace discrimination will no longer be an issue if employers and institutions everywhere can be open and non-discriminatory of one’s sexual-orientation.

“I think the change is going to be in small increments. Generation by generation there is going to be a little less of homophobia, racism, sexism, etc.,” Halstead said. “Little by little that is going to get washed away, until one day hopefully we reach the point where it is no longer an issue for anyone.”

“I am hoping society will be more accepting. I definitely feel it’s headed in that direction,” Verterano said. “There will always be homophobes and awful people but just stand your ground. Don’t let people who refuse to progress bring you down.”