What to Do When Your Boss Is a Homophobe
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Three Options
Bob Witeck, has extensive experience with gay/lesbian employees at corporations, public agencies, foundations and nonprofit groups. He says that employees with homophobic bosses have three options: Accept the situation, change it or leave it.
"Unless you have benefits you absolutely can't risk, like health insurance for a sick partner, I would argue in favour of confrontation," he says. "If you don't face it, you can't change it. And if you can't change it, that person will continue that behaviour against other people. No one wins."
The first step in confronting antigay behavior is to document everything. Write down all the details of each incident, including the effects on your frame of mind and ability to work. In addition, ask for copies of past evaluations, from the boss in question and others.
Next, find an ally. Witeck calls this "an island in the company where you feel comfortable." Less poetically, an ally is a colleague in whom you can confide your frustrations, who will offer constructive suggestions, and who may stand for or with you as you take your next step. Your ally need not be another gay/lesbian person; in fact, straight colleagues can be tremendously effective. Your ally should, however, be someone who knows your boss and the company and who has experience with office politics. Also, be careful not to choose somebody who is overzealous -- you don't want someone who will go in with guns blazing and alienate people.
