Homophobia and Discrimination on

Research on workplace experiences
The results from the e-survey <strong>and</strong> fieldwork interviews correlate with research findings in
several Member States, for example Belgium, 177 Germany, 178 Sweden, 179 Slovakia, 180
Irel<strong>and</strong>, 181 Denmark, 182 Hungary, 183 Finl<strong>and</strong>. 184 . In summary, these research studies
show that LGBT persons experience discrimination <strong>and</strong> homophobia in the workplace
through direct <strong>and</strong> indirect discrimination (access to employment, dismissal <strong>and</strong> lack of
promotion); unequal treatment in the areas of appreciation, performance pressure,
advancement, training, earnings, <strong>and</strong>/or holiday; harassment in the form of demeaning
or derogatory statements, name-calling or insults, use of abusive language by
colleagues, mocking, ridicule, gossip or rumours; sexually explicit remarks; <strong>and</strong> social
isolation.
While lack of openness can render the problem of sexual orientation discrimination
invisible, closeted LGBT persons also experience discrimination. Research conducted
in the Slovak Republic 185 showed that although many LGB persons conceal their
sexual orientation at work, more than 25 per cent experienced harassment. In
Sweden a man employed by a hospital in Skåne reported his employer to the Equality
Body HomO for discrimination in working life on the grounds of his sexual orientation,
because after mentioning at his work that he was a homosexual, he was subjected to
insinuations, disparaging comments <strong>and</strong> downright ‘mobbing’ by his colleagues for
several years. Despite several appeals to his supervisor, no action was taken. HomO
contacted the Swedish Municipal Workers’ Union, to which the man belonged, <strong>and</strong>
the union represented him in negotiations with the employer, who admitted having
failed to fulfil his obligations to take action. The complainant was awarded
compensation of more than SEK 30,000 (approximately 3,000 EUR). 186
177 Social <strong>and</strong> Economic Council Fl<strong>and</strong>ers (SERV), ‘Holebi’s en de arbeidsmarkt’, SERV 2005; John Vincke,
Alexis Dewaele, Wim Van den Berghe <strong>and</strong> Nele Cox, ‘Zzzip – een statistisch onderzoek met het oog op
het verzamelen van basismateriaal over de doelgroep holebi’s’, Gent 2006
178 D. Frohn (2007) „Out im Office?!“ Sexuelle Identität, (Anti-)Diskriminierung und Diversity am Arbeitsplatz.
Köln: Schwules Netzwerk NRW e.V. (ed.) funded by Ministry for Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women
& Integration of North Rhine-Westphalia.
179 Arbetsvillkor och utsatthet, Arbetslivsinstitutet 2003
180 P.Jójárt, M. Šípošová <strong>and</strong> A. Daučíková (2002) ‘Report on <strong>Discrimination</strong> of Lesbians, Gay men <strong>and</strong>
Bisexuals in Slovakia’, Archive, Bratislava
181 The Equality Authority (2002) Implementing Equality for Lesbians, Gays <strong>and</strong> Bisexuals. Dublin
182 The survey was conducted by CATINÉT Research on behalf of Ugebrevet A4. Findings published in
Ugebrevet A4, August 8, 2005 (A.F. Thøgersen, S. Kudahl).
183 J. Takács, L. Mocsonaki, <strong>and</strong> T. P. Tóth, ‘A leszbikus, meleg, biszexuális és transznemű (LMBT)
emberek társadalmi kirekesztettsége Magyarországon’ (Social Exclusion of LGBT People in Hungary),
Budapest: MTA SZKI 2007. A recent survey in Hungary (Takács, Mocsonaki, <strong>and</strong> Tóth 2008), show that
more than one third of the LGBT respondents stated to experience discrimination <strong>and</strong> prejudice in their
workplace
184 J. Lehtonen <strong>and</strong> K. Mustola eds. (2004) “Straight people don’t tell, do they…?” Negotiating the
boundaries of sexuality <strong>and</strong> gender at work. Research Reports 2b/04. Ministry of Labour
185 Paula Jójárt, Marianna Šípošová <strong>and</strong> Anna Daučíková, ‘Report on <strong>Discrimination</strong> of Lesbians, Gay men
<strong>and</strong> Bisexuals in Slovakia’, Archive, Bratislava 2002.
186 See www.homo.se (19.08.2008) (Decision of 6 November 2000, Dossier No. 103/99)
Part II - The Social Situation
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