Self-Identification of LGBT in the Canadian Criminal Justice Workplace: What’s in it for me? Anick Fournier, Canada

Introduction Criminal Justice Organizations actively promoting merits of inclusive workplace to better serve communities, including LGBT Sexual orientation and gender identity are issues increasingly discussed But how to talk about these issues without infringing on privacy While Criminal Justice Organizations benefit from having LGBT employees self identify, the advantage to LGBT employees may not be as obvious Fear of repercussions In Canada, LGBT rights some of the most advanced in the world but there is still discrimination Notable in Criminal Justice Organizations with lingering traditional hypermasculine culture. Times are changing with emphasis on diversity and inclusion and Self-identification in workplace is essential

Self-Identification The act of identifying yourself as a particular kind of person. Sexual orientation Gender Identification: Employee openly discloses their sexual orientation/gender to others. Employer provides a formal opportunity for employees to self-identify. Example, employer collects demographic data about LGBT+ employees. At present, there are no legal requirements to collect information on LGBT employees by employers.

In & Out Research Report - 2015 Canadian research report on self-identification of LGBT employees in the workplace 1410 Canadians surveyed Authors: Amy Ellard-Gray and Thomas Sasso from University of Guelph Research report not only for Criminal Justice Professionals Occupations represented: a cross section of Canadian employment sectors, although most: business (34.3%) education, law, social and government services (29%) sales (9.4%)

Importance of being “out” at work Dominant groups: Heterosexual and cisgender participants: someone who identifies with their birth-assigned gender. Source: Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (2015) In & Out. Diverging Perspectives on LGBT+ Inclusion in the workplace. Canada.

Discrimination: Awareness and Experience Source: Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (2015) In & Out. Diverging Perspectives on LGBT+ Inclusion in the workplace. Canada.

Degrees of Equality - 2009 (USA) Are any of the following reasons why you personally are not out to anyone at work?

Degrees of Equality (2009) – US study 66% because “it’s nobody’s business.” Feeling is strongly tied to reported incidence of negative climate: Don’t feel accepted by co-workers Tend to exhibit signs of distress from a negative climate staying home from work, feeling distracted from work, feeling exhausted from hiding, avoiding certain clients or customers

In & Out Research Report - 2015 Perception of whether LGBT+ employees should be provided opportunity to self-identify Opportunity to disclose

In & Out Research Report - 2015 Perceived barriers for employers to provide opportunities for disclosure As long as employees are informed about where the information is being stored, how it will be used, and they have a choice whether or not to answer, it is perfectly legal to ask the questions.

LGBT Self-ID in Workplace – 2010 (USA) Reasons for not allowing employees to self-identify (sexual orientation or gender identity)

What’s in it for employees? Desire to be given the opportunity to self-identify Being yourself Feeling included in the workplace Creation of Employee Resource Group Solidarity with LGBT+ employees and allies Changes to policies Greater understanding of diversity in sexual orientations and identities

References Buck Consultants (2010) LGBT Self-Identification in the Workplace, 2010. California, USA (http://www.outandequal.org/wp- content/uploads/2015/03/2010LGBT_Self- Identification_in_the_Workplace_Report.pdf on 2016-02-24). COUTO, Joe L. (2014) Covered in Blue: Police Culture and LGBT Police Officers in the Province of Ontario. Royal Roads University, Canada. Master’s Thesis. Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion. (2015) In & Out. Diverging Perspectives on LGBT+ Inclusion in the workplace. Canada. Human Rights Campaign Foundation (2009) Degrees of Equality, A national study examining workplace climate for LGBT Employees. USA (http://hrc-assets.s3- website-us-east- 1.amazonaws.com//files/assets/resources/DegreesOfEquality_2009.pdf on 2016- 04-25).