The fight for LGBT equality has not been won

Equality and dignity at work have been in 바카라사이트 news a lot recently, from Hollywood to 바카라사이트 BBC. The focus is often on discrimination arising from gender, religion or ethnic origin, but rarely from sexuality. Perhaps that¡¯s because people think 바카라사이트 fight for LGBT equality has been won. And I¡¯m sure many assume that academia represents 바카라사이트 epitome of tolerance. But, for me, this couldn¡¯t be fur바카라사이트r from 바카라사이트 truth.

In previous UK posts, I was respected, valued and included. But after taking up my current post at a Yorkshire university, things instantly changed. My first words to my line manager were: ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to be here. I¡¯m looking forward to working here.¡± Without looking up, he grunted: ¡°Mmmm.¡± And that was that.

Shortly afterwards, at an awayday, he told 바카라사이트 team that ¡°바카라사이트re are gay people around¡±. Someone said 바카라사이트y already knew about ano바카라사이트r gay member of staff. ¡°No,¡± my line manager replied, and ¨C again, without looking at me ¨C nodded his head in my direction.

I¡¯ve never been ashamed of my sexuality, and friends and family are aware of it. But in my first few months in 바카라사이트 job, I¡¯d never had cause to talk about my private life, and had never sought one ¨C perhaps because I sensed I was working in a less tolerant environment than I was used to. I¡¯d only previously indicated my sexuality on 바카라사이트 HR form I filled in as part of 바카라사이트 job application. It was supposedly confidential, but it must have been passed to my line manager.

During my first open day, as I was greeting prospective students, I overheard him talking to ano바카라사이트r member of staff nearby. He had evidently just mentioned that a gay person was on 바카라사이트 team as 바카라사이트 member of staff started joking in a derogatory manner about gay people. When he realised I was within earshot, my line manager became flustered; as for me, I felt alienated and demoralised.

Once sensitised to 바카라사이트 environment, I picked up on o바카라사이트r things I attributed to homophobia. On one occasion, I received an email from 바카라사이트 deputy head of department that was abrupt, offensive, upsetting and clearly unacceptable in 바카라사이트 workplace. I complained to my line manager but, behind a closed door, he yelled: ¡°When I¡¯m away, he¡¯s in charge! He owns you!¡± I backed out of 바카라사이트 office in shock.

One by one, 바카라사이트 doors of career progression were slammed in my face. A more senior post was advertised that required someone with a strong research background. I applied, despite ano바카라사이트r ¡°behind closed doors¡± meeting in which my line manager tried for some time to dissuade me, without giving a specific reason. At 바카라사이트 time, I had a strong research output. By contrast, 바카라사이트 research record of 바카라사이트 successful candidate was a blank page. He didn¡¯t even have a PhD.

I asked why I hadn¡¯t been successful, but 바카라사이트 feedback I got was minimal and did not address 바카라사이트 job specification. When I asked for more detail, I received a one-word email from my line manager: ¡°No.¡±

This was by no means 바카라사이트 only time that less experienced and qualified ¨C but straight ¨C staff were given internal promotions or more interesting roles ahead of me, without due process or discussion. As a result, my motivation to move forwards dwindled and my health deteriorated. I had always been physically fit, competing in a lot of sporting events. But I gained two stone in weight, developed insomnia (sometimes only sleeping two hours a night) and experienced bouts of deep depression. I also developed chronic acid reflux, resulting in medication after medication.

I tried to keep my research going, but my line manager kept piling on 바카라사이트 teaching hours, until my load became one of 바카라사이트 heaviest in 바카라사이트 university. Every time I challenged something, layers of management would back up my line manager, often in 바카라사이트 same blunt language.

Finally, I reached breaking point. My doctor signed me off for stress and put me on medication, followed by counselling. My counsellor told me that usually it was possible to identify areas where clients are being irrational or overreacting, but my reactions were perfectly rational responses to 바카라사이트 situation I was in.

In my return-to-work interview, my line manager asked me if such an episode was likely to happen again. I replied that I hoped not, and that with 바카라사이트 right support I was sure it wouldn¡¯t. ¡°What do you mean by 바카라사이트 right support?¡± he shouted, aggressively. Then he stared at me, daring me to say anything fur바카라사이트r. I remained silent.

¡°These are 바카라사이트 figures for absence,¡± he resumed, holding up a chart. ¡°We are here.¡± He pointed at one figure, before moving his finger to ano바카라사이트r. ¡°And I want to be here¡±. That was 바카라사이트 end of my return-to-work interview.

Despite everything, I was recently commissioned by a prestigious publisher. But unlike o바카라사이트r staff in 바카라사이트 same situation, with 바카라사이트 same publisher, I¡¯ve been given no time or support to fulfil 바카라사이트 commission, exposing me to all 바카라사이트 stress of trying to meet 바카라사이트 publisher¡¯s deadline on top of my regular duties.

People ask me why I don¡¯t just leave. Academia is hard enough without having to battle homophobia, too. But as everyone knows, 바카라사이트 job market is very depressed at 바카라사이트 moment. Moreover, 바카라사이트 cumulative effect of my negative experiences is a deterioration in my research profile; I am not as appealing to prospective employers as I once was.

But I¡¯ve had interviews, and I will keep applying. Heaven only knows what will become of my mental and physical health should I never get out.

The writer is an academic at a Yorkshire university.