My job is an interesting one. I am basically paid to be me. An actor is paid to be someone else. I am paid to be me. “What do you do?” “I am a lesbian Christian”. “Yes, but what do you do for a living?” “Oh I see what you mean. I am out lesbian Christian.” It has been interesting for me to hear the stories of other people at work recently. I spent some time with someone who is very tentatively starting to come out at work, after many months of praying about this. So far, it has gone well, but there is a risk that some colleagues may not react so positively. We have talked a lot about what we tell folk at work – colleagues, customers, the management. With each of these groups of people, we might share different aspects of their lives. I don’t expect to hear details of their personal lives from my dentist, doctor or solicitor, unless they want to share them. I would expect to know a bit more about the personal life of a colleague, but only what they wanted to share. Some people are just more private than others. When I was at university, I had a friend who was so private about her life, I didn’t know she was going out with this guy, until she announced their engagement.
This week, I was invited to the Land Registry offices in Durham to give a talk about LGBT issues and faith. The LGBT and Allies Network gather colleagues together in their particular branch of the Civil Service to support one another and discuss relevant issues. One of the other presenters, Emma, started her presentation with some words based on article by David Wong. “A thousand years ago, if you were a genius born on a farm, it didn't matter that you were a genius - it just meant you were going to be a genius who shovelled muck. Two hundred years ago in some places, if you were a genius who was born black, it didn't matter - you were going to live your life as a genius slave. A hundred years ago, if you were a genius who was born a female, it didn't matter - you were going to be a genius who stayed home and changed nappies. Sixty years ago if you were a genius who was born lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, it didn’t matter - you were going to be a genius who got arrested, prosecuted and put in jail.” (Thanks Emma)
LGBT and straight people are working together in Land Registry to make the workplace a safe space to come out in. When people are comfortable and can be fully themselves at work, they work better and are less stressed about people finding out about their ‘secret’. Jesus offered life in all its fullness. That includes the many hours of our life that we spend at work. Homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, disablism are everyone’s issues, not just for the person that they are aimed at. When we are in an environment where we can all thrive, we can each be the genius that God created us to be.
God bless,
Cecilia
This week, I was invited to the Land Registry offices in Durham to give a talk about LGBT issues and faith. The LGBT and Allies Network gather colleagues together in their particular branch of the Civil Service to support one another and discuss relevant issues. One of the other presenters, Emma, started her presentation with some words based on article by David Wong. “A thousand years ago, if you were a genius born on a farm, it didn't matter that you were a genius - it just meant you were going to be a genius who shovelled muck. Two hundred years ago in some places, if you were a genius who was born black, it didn't matter - you were going to live your life as a genius slave. A hundred years ago, if you were a genius who was born a female, it didn't matter - you were going to be a genius who stayed home and changed nappies. Sixty years ago if you were a genius who was born lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, it didn’t matter - you were going to be a genius who got arrested, prosecuted and put in jail.” (Thanks Emma)
LGBT and straight people are working together in Land Registry to make the workplace a safe space to come out in. When people are comfortable and can be fully themselves at work, they work better and are less stressed about people finding out about their ‘secret’. Jesus offered life in all its fullness. That includes the many hours of our life that we spend at work. Homophobia, transphobia, racism, sexism, disablism are everyone’s issues, not just for the person that they are aimed at. When we are in an environment where we can all thrive, we can each be the genius that God created us to be.
God bless,
Cecilia
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