Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Workplace

 

This guest post is by Keith Merkey, Education

and
Outreach Associate, Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, who’ll present on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Workplace at #MANOAC18, part of the HUMAN RESOURCES learning area.

Although efforts have been made in recent years to advance equality and understanding for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA) individuals, there are still many instances where LGBTQ+ people find themselves excluded and uncomfortable in a variety of settings. 

For example, every workplace demands some level of sharing. Talking about your spouse or dating life may come up around the lunch table as normal chit-chat for

non
-LGBTQ+ employees, but is often a taboo subject for an LGBTQ+ co-worker seeking to remain quiet about their personal life for fear of discrimination. This can lead to isolation and a reduced level of sharing – an inability to bring their full self to work. These conditions have a negative effect not only on the employee but on the business as well.

Attend “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in the Workplace,” led by Keith Merkey, Education

and
Outreach Associate, Maryland Commission on Civil Rights, part of the Human Resources track at #MANOAC18 to: 

Become more familiar with LGBTQ+ inclusive terminology and pronouns

Examine the misconceptions and misinformation surrounding LGBTQ+ issues

Develop a greater understanding of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people

Become familiar with Maryland law as it pertains to sexual orientation and gender identity

Explore ways to create more welcoming and inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ people in the workplace

To learn more about the impact of sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace, make sure to attend Keith’s session at #MANOAC18 coming up on October 4!

About the Author

Keith Merkey is the Education and Outreach Associate for the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights where he provides educational workshops and conducts training courses on a variety of topics such as diversity, discrimination prevention, sexual harassment, conflict resolution, sexual orientation/gender identity, and other issues for Maryland’s agencies, universities, businesses, and organizations. Mr. Merkey received his Bachelors of Art in Religion and Philosophy from Campbell University and his Masters of Divinity and Education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has received post-graduate training in prejudice–reduction, conflict resolution, and diversity as well as EEO, Fair Housing Issues and Safe Spaces Training.