Dealing with ingrained homophobia, stereotypes, etc. at work
http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8518Sat Dec 06, 2008 at 12:42:11 PM EST
I had a situation come up at work the other day, and the more I think about it, the less certain if the way I handled it was appropriate, or if I missed an 'educational opportunity'--for myself and/or for the other parties involved.
I take calls on the helpdesk for a printing company. During a slow time, I was sharing pictures of my sister's prospective wedding dress to some of my co-workers. (She's getting married next year.) One of my co-workers made a comment to the effect of "She went wedding dress shopping and didn't take her gay brother along?" (NM that it was logistically impossible.) One of my other co-workers heard the remark and was slightly offended because of the 'politically incorrect' stereotyping. At the time, I laughed it off as a joke, and thought nothing more. Later I found out that my offended co-worker had said something to my boss, and my boss asked me about it. I explained that I wasn't bothered by it and took it as a joke.
