My first time coming out in the workforce (meaning outside the academy, onboard a vessel, to a fellow shipmate) was on my cadetship. During the latter half of my cadetship, I worked alongside a chief mate who could only be described as many things, one of which was homophobic. I had formed a good working relationship with this individual. However, after they discovered my LinkedIn, where I had listed that I was the President of the then gay-straight alliance, along with other posts related to the club's efforts, the chief mate started to treat me differently. Quite suddenly, after questioning me about it, he started to distance himself from me, no longer including me in conversations or tasks, and got very quiet around me. At the time, I remember thinking that perhaps my cadet experience could have been much worse if he had discovered this towards the beginning of my cadetship and not the end. Coming out in this manner made me rethink how I presented myself in the workforce after graduation. I no longer include such details in my professional networking, a decision I still grapple with, especially as I continue to be involved in several Pride in Maritime initiatives. I am happy to report that I currently work on a vessel with several others who are a part of the LGBTQ community, and I am starting to feel more confident at work. Thank you, Sophie, for putting this forum together.
