DOJ Tells Employees to Verbally Affirm Homosexuality

KatAutumn said:

I don't understand why people need a brochure on how to "verbally affirm LGBT co-workers". Are LGBT folks that sensitive that if their colleagues aren't praising them for who they have sex with or because they were "born in the wrong body" or because there aren't rainbow pride stickers plastered in every cubicle they won't want to work there any more? None of the LGBT people I've ever worked with seemed that easily butthurt.

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I'm happy that those members of the LGBT community found a workplace where this sort of pamphlet wasn't needed. Please don't let that distract you from the fact that these are serious concerns for people in certain other workplaces. I would guess that the Department of Justice doesn't have a huge problem, but I don't see any harm in a pamphlet like this one. Things like preferred pronouns can be tricky.

DianeRhea said:

Hopefully those people will be ostracized! And quit!

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All about tolerance! Yes, that's evident.

I assume you bolded the phrase about trying to maintain a respectful workplace in order to say that many managers are able to maintain professionalism without the specific tips in the brochure. Perhaps that is true, but it helps to have resources to fall back on if the situation changes. Besides, the tips are nothing more than specific examples of (GLBT-specific) situations in applying general guidelines for respect and courtesy. Just as you would not put up with an employee always calling another employee "You dirty [ethnic slur]" almost every day, you don't have to put up with an employee making daily comments about a GLBT coworker.

MagicSabbath said:

All about tolerance! Yes, that's evident.

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Don't you see? "Tolerance" is only for those who have the "right" opinions, and members of certain minorities. Everyone else, can shove it and pay for it all!

ChristOurCaptain said:

Don't you see? "Tolerance" is only for those who have the "right" opinions, and members of certain minorities. Everyone else, can shove it and pay for it all!

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I don't see anything in the pamphlet that says you shouldn't be able to keep your religious beliefs if you work at the DOJ. If basic respect seems like such a radical idea to you and isn't part of your beliefs, then maybe you have some rethinking to do.

My Christian college gives out pamphlets that are more strongly worded than this one. Sheesh...

OllieFranz said:

Which employees? The ones targeted by the inappropriate remarks, or the ones making them? Why is it so hard to expect one's coworkers to be courteous and respectful while in the office?

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I don't know that anyone made any inappropriate remarks. Remember, silence, according to the brochure, is inappropriate

MachZer0 said:

I don't know that anyone made any inappropriate remarks. Remember, silence, according to the brochure, is inappropriate

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Passivity in the face of injustice is typically unfavorable, yes.

Actually, this pamphlet is pretty good. I bet my Christian college's LGBT center would like to have it. Thanks, thread-starter!

Cearbhall said:

Passivity in the face of injustice is typically unfavorable, yes.

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Injustice isn't at issue

Cearbhall said:

I don't see anything in the pamphlet that says you shouldn't be able to keep your religious beliefs if you work at the DOJ.

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You're just not allowed to express them. Some "freedom", no?
Would you accept: "Hey, you can keep on being gay, just don't talk about it"?

Cearbhall said:

If basic respect seems like such a radical idea to you and isn't part of your beliefs, then maybe you have some rethinking to do.

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Basic respect isn't = caving to infantile "classroom rules" appropriate for third-graders, not grown-ups working at the DOJ.
And quite frankly, anyone working in such a place should be mentally strong enough to not have to be pampered all the time.

Cearbhall said:

My Christian college gives out pamphlets that are more strongly worded than this one. Sheesh...

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I haven't seen what you're referring to, but if it's approving of homophilia, then it should re-consider calling itself a "Christian college".

ChristOurCaptain said:

You're just not allowed to express them. Some "freedom", no?
Would you accept: "Hey, you can keep on being gay, just don't talk about it"?

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How is calling someone a pansy an expression of Christianity? Did you even read the pamphlet? And why did you choose the word "allowed?" This wasn't endorsed by the workplace itself.

ChristOurCaptain said:

I haven't seen what you're referring to, but if it's approving of homophilia, then it should re-consider calling itself a "Christian college".

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My Catholic college follows Catholic teaching, which is that people of all orientations should abstain from sex unless they are married to a member of the opposite sex and that it is of the utmost importance to respect the dignity of every human being, regardless of where they fall on the spectrums of gender and sexual orientation.

MachZer0 said:

I don't know that anyone made any inappropriate remarks. Remember, silence, according to the brochure, is inappropriate

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That sentence, which was only part of the statement, was in response to a situation where an employee comes to see you, as his manager, and "comes out." It tells the manager who wants advice on how to handle that situation that pretending the employee did not say anything will be interpreted by the employee as disapproval. Thanking the employee for trusting him is suggested. That is not the same as approving.

This has nothing to do with everyone keeping to themselves any opinions that they know will be hurtful. Or even ones they know will be helpful, but which are inappropiate in a professional setting.

What you are claiming that the brochure is advocating is the opposite of keeping inappropriate remarks to yourself. The closest the brochure comes to what you are claiming is the suggestion about the stickers. And while I think they go too far with that suggestion, it is still a far cry from telling people that they have to "verbally approve of homosexuality."

ChristOurCaptain said:

You're just not allowed to express them. Some "freedom", no?
Would you accept: "Hey, you can keep on being gay, just don't talk about it"?

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You can be a Christian even at work. You can talk about something that happened at Church on Sunday. You just can't prostheletize. Or insult your clients and coworkers.

A more appropriate analogy would be: "You can keep on being gay, just don't come on to your clients or coworkers, or insult them."

Basic respect isn't = caving to infantile "classroom rules" appropriate for third-graders, not grown-ups working at the DOJ.
And quite frankly, anyone working in such a place should be mentally strong enough to not have to be pampered all the time.

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So you think insults are appropriate behaviors in adult work environments? That is all that is being asked. Courtesy and respect.

And, as a manager, you would put up with a workplace where several of the other workers insulted people and pulled "harmless pranks" constantly instead of doing their work?

MachZer0 said:

Falwell died. He's with the Lord these days

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You don't know that.

Cearbhall said:

My Catholic college follows Catholic teaching

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Yes but we're talking about Christians being persecuted, not Catholics.

I kid.

Marius27 said:

You don't know that.

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Yes I do

Next time somebody talks about Christian persecution in the US I'm gonna remember the time this forum got in a huff because some HR department suggested that supervisors treat their underlings with respect and not bigotry. Help, help, I'm being repressed!

SnowCal said:

Next time somebody talks about Christian persecution in the US I'm gonna remember the time this forum got in a huff because some HR department suggested that supervisors treat their underlings with respect and not bigotry. Help, help, I'm being repressed!

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It seems to have gone beyond that

MachZer0 said:

It seems to have gone beyond that

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Oh no, a group of employees sent out a pamphlet!

What do you do when coworkers e-mail you crude chain mail? Sue them?

MachZer0 said:

It seems to have gone beyond that

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No it didn't.