3 Gradients Gays exist in at work: G1, G2 & G3

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In the work place Gays exist in three very unique variations. Each is significant in their differences in acceptance and understanding. More often the company or organization creates the gradient by its corporate culture and ethical operational standards. By creating a G1 environment companies improve employee moral thus maximizing results.

  G1: "Completely Out."

Within this most supportive and accepting environment operates some of the worlds the most admired and successful companies. Coincidentally, these are the same companies that often deliver excellent financial results. Great results are directly related to their corporate culture of inclusion, leading to positive public perception. Such companies are viewed positively for being wiser than our times. Yet, all these environments' ringmasters have done is operate with integrity and deliver results all while embracing and being all that is naturally you! Starbucks and Apple, along with a few other companies, have enacted accepting environments, and, are trailblazers for equality in working environments. Let me ask you a blunt question: are you shocked when you walk into a Starbucks or an Apple store and see an openly Gay employee? NO! You almost expect it. More importantly, do you care? No! Does this expected presence give you anything other than a positive perception of the company these Gay employees work for? Nope! As you have an "ah ha" moment here, my exact point is: you translate this way of conducting business as the most positive operational standard of corporate entities. In fact these two companies have done nothing more than say be Gay, but still do your job. Be freely, openly Gay and be that way while you perform to our expectations. On Starbucks.com, inside it's "about us" section proclaims:

"Starbucks is dedicated to creating a workplace that values and respects people from diverse backgrounds, and enables its employees to do their best work. We honor the unique combination of talents, experiences and perspectives of each partner, making Starbucks success possible."

Further:

"As such we expect our partners to act with a spirit of kinship, tolerance and humanity toward all customers making our brand welcoming to everyone."

I think that sums up my point nicely. I would also like to add, I firmly believe their statement and have seen it in effect first-hand, having worked for Starbucks Coffee Company North America as a store manager. This was the first time I felt comfortable in my own skin while working simply because of their corporate culture of inclusion.

Apple and Starbucks have garnered widespread respect for their ultra-inclusive, professional corporate operations. Of course, the majority of people given this freedom and inclusion conduct themselves with taste and class. For some facts and solid information to back this up, The Human Rights Coalition, (HRC) corporate equality index for 2010, gave both Apple Inc and Starbucks a 100% on their equality report card. Companies such as these two have set the standard for most of corporate America.

  Two, G2 is: "Acknowledgement."

The second way, G2, is a middle of the road, semi-comfortable zone that Gays are acknowledged in. You can't be fully, freely out, but you are acknowledged and therefore feel comfortable discussing your culture, boyfriend or girlfriend at work, to an extent. This is where the majority of corporate America operates, as is required by the public's consumer power. The majority of U.S. citizens would flex their consumer muscle by choosing to spend their incomes elsewhere than a bigoted and discriminatory company.

Racial discrimination, the closest and most similar form of discrimination compared to Gay discrimination demonstrates the need and public demand for companies to operate in corporate cultures of inclusion.

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G3: "Closeted".

G3 is the third and most debilitating way of existence in the professional world/corporate America. For example, DADT- Don't Ask Don't Tell. This is the Military's policy of mandating that sexual identity be withheld. Did any of us truly believe there weren't lesbians serving in the Air force? Or that Gay men weren't serving our country within the Army? No one was fooled that Gays proudly and honorably served, yet they were mandated to hide who they are or face a humiliating discharge. This shameful act of hiding one's true self at work, from peers and superiors is wildly unacceptable. In a homophobic or un-accepting, non-acknowledging environment (G3), Gays are suppressed and fear ridicule and discrimination. This begins a downward spiral of depleting self-esteem and further threatens a person's mental and physical well being. Some individuals become trapped in these environments because their psyche is drastically damaged from having to live as a second-class citizen by being Gay, which is just the same as racial inequality suppressed groups based on race. A G3 environment suppresses Gays. And on top of that, a person is now working in a job that they are terrified of being themselves at. The integrity of their armor is damaged, so many continue on this destructive professional career path to nowhere far too long. G3 environments kill dreams and destroy hope. I have personally worked in a G3 environment for an unmentioned company that today I believe has done a better job broadening their policies than my horrific experiences as a teenage employee in the 1990's, always fearing I would be exposed for who I am. Thus, I existed in G3 and went to extreme lengths, concealing that I was a Gay male. I will leave this home improvement company unnamed.