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Discrimination against LGBT employees still exists and hence it istime to introspect on HR policies

Last Updated : Sep 10, 2018 11:25 AM IST | Source: Moneycontrol.com

Section 377 verdict: Gay sex not a crime, but are ourworkplaces ready?

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Brinda Mukherjee (name

changed), a 28-year-old

graphic designer from

Kolkata, has changed

almost 10 jobs in her

seven-year career.

Reason? She was

uncomfortable with her

colleagues' taunts.

Mukherjee had been a

closeted homosexual for

eight years now, but her

colleagues got a hint

when they saw her with

her partner.

"It has always been 'how

are you normal?' or 'sorry, we aren't used to seeing people like you'. I don't think I

will get used to these casual remarks," she says. Mukherjee is in the process of

setting up her own venture.

Several miles away, Pratik Chopra, who is a Mumbai-based investment banker,

has faced a similar situation at his workplace. While he admits that not everyone

discriminates, he is well aware that they ridicule his sexual preferences in hushed

tones.

In a landmark judgement on September 6, the

Supreme Court decriminalised gay sex. Earlier,

as part of Section 377, sexual intercourse

between individuals of the same gender was a

crime. But the Mukherjees and Chopras are still

waiting for a mindset change.

The law has changed. But the real challenge

now is to build a conversation around the

rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and

Transgender (LGBT) community and their

rights at the workplace. While the law was

overturned two days ago, the ground realities

are very different.

Tata Steel

LIVENSE

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Parmesh Shahani, Head, Godrej India Culture

Lab, says there is a big difference between

brands who want to capitalise on the

judgement by putting out a pride flag and

companies who have been working on these

issues for years. "Over the long term, it will be clear who is authentic and

committed and who is just trying to be timely," he adds.

For Shahani, who came out in 2004, the journey has been a little better than

others. His employer, Godrej, was accepting of his identity from day one. In fact,

he says the group brought in several policies to end discrimination and uphold

rights of LGBT employees after he joined.

Godrej is perhaps one of the few companies that even offered insurance to

employees and their partners, irrespective of their sexual preferences. Apart from

them, Shahani said companies like Tata Steel

(http://www.moneycontrol.com/india/stockpricequote/steel-large/tatasteel/TIS),

IBM and Lalit Group of Hotels have been LGBT-friendly workplaces even before

the judgement was passed.

"It is a myth that foreign companies are more progressive than Indian

counterparts when it comes to upholding LGBT rights," says Shahani. He is among

the 100 managers working on inclusion across India.

It is a mammoth task. Especially for the transgender community, who has been

given the status of 'third gender' by the apex court. On paper, companies do not

discriminate. But the reality is something else.

Shahani says even for call centre jobs, where the face and body should not matter,

transgender individuals are not considered for employment.

"Companies will be called out to see how inclusive they really are. We need jobs,

especially for transgenders. Corporates have to start by hiring people, then have

LGBT-friendly  policies, implement them and also engage with the community at

large to see what their needs are," he explains.

For now, the job is only half done. Certain provisions of Section 377 have been

scrapped. But this is only the first mile of the marathon.

First Published on Sep 8, 2018 03:02 pm

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