Sexual harassment  | Poll Results | Advocate.com

||   Sexual harassment   ||
Results for the following question: Are gay bosses more vulnerable to sexual harassment charges than straight bosses?

Yes
 47.7%

No
 40.6%

Undecided
 11.6%

Total Votes: 970

Comments:
These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Anonymous
harassment is harassment - gay, straight or otherwise. it's all wrong.

Anonymous
Speaking from first hand experience... YES!

Anonymous
these day some straits are going to find any loophole in gay culture to take all of our legitimacy away .

Anonymous
these day some straits are going to find any loophole in gay culture to take all of our legitimacy away .

Aivri
No, only homophobic close-minded employees are more vulnerable into believing that they are being sexually harassed by a gay boss.

Anonymous
They are more vulnerable if they make unpopular decisions with straight employees. There is leverage with the gay card they can use against the boss. I have seen this happen repeatedly with female vs. female. Women ( gay or straight ) tend to be B's toward each other in the work place.

Anonymous
Yes, largely due to the fact that to a certian portion of society we are still perceived as inherently predatory.

Anonymous
If gay bosses feel paranoid about touching employees lest someone should take it the wrong way, they might take some comfort in knowing straight bosses are in the same boat. My last 2 managers (both male, both straight as far as I know) both mentioned in my hearing that they didn't dare make any physical contact with any employee, male or female, beyond shaking hands. They both sounded a little embittered about it and it was interesting that these two men (who did not know each other or have any connection) said almost the exact same thing. PS, I voted 'undecided' because I agree with those who have said a study of some sort is the only way to get a meaningful answer to this question.

Brian
While this is a valid question for study, including it in a poll is just calling for speculation with no basis in reality except for the few of us who may have experienced with this sort of accusation.

Kevin Brauer-Denver
Its all about professionalism and avoiding potentially compromising situations in the workplace which is simply again professionalism.

Joedfw
I don't have any anecdotal evidence, but I would think that gays would not be given the benefit of the doubt, considering society's attitudes towards gay people. Sen. Craig's misbehavior & the mass hysteria that it created - GAYS ON THE HUNT FOR SEX IN PUBLIC BATHROOMS! - is just the latest example.

CAROLINE, FLORIDA
As an out lesbian teacher, I experienced harassment from another teacher. My principal didn't tell me the gender of the person making the complaint. Also, an acquaintance, who wasn't invited to go with my friend and I to the annual Gay Day at Disneyworld, wrote a letter to my principal implying I was sexually interested in her daughter. The problems with the letter were: 1) when she wrote that her HUSBAND and she.... I didn't have any female students in my class whose parents' were married, 2) she indicated she was white; however, the ONLY possible student was African American (mother never married & daughter not adopted), 3) she indicated her daughter was a young child, but all of my students were in their late teens.

Anonymous
Because they are a lightning rod for other people's sexual insecurities.

Bill McFarlin, Jr.
I would say it would depend on the make-up of the company's staff and the type of company being operated. If the staff is mostly straight, probably not (IF they know the boss is gay). Otherwise, it would depend on the type of company. Gay people are talented, focused and hard-working. Granted, not all of us are that way, but I tend to think that alot of us are. So that's why I've marked the "Undecided" slot.

Anonymous
I believe that "OUT" gay bossess are vulnerable

Steve H
Of course. The (fortunately, waning) public perception is that straight bosses are likely to ogle the va-va-voom secretaries, but gay bosses will find it impossible to resist any old troll working for them so long as he or she is of the same gender.

Anonymous
SInce they are in a seat of power they may risk exposure if they come out. Thus may have no idea how to handle the advances of their subordinates.

Anonymous
yes, as long as people dislike their boss and people still have issues with gay people there will always be someone who will say their boss hit on them to avoid being repremanded for their behavior or to find a reason toget rid of the boss that actually expects their coworker to work

John H. Neu
This question requires empirical study; and since I have never done any empirical research on this subject, I can't provide a factually based response. Off hand, I would say that any boss who has been properly trained in good business practices should be no more vulnerable whatever his/her sexual orientation. Perhaps the variable which counts most might be the nature of the business. Some lines of work may lend themselves more easily to sexual harassment charges than others.

Steve
I wouldn't think so in the case of male/male sexual harassment. I say this because I know how uncomfortable it is for a straight man to deal with the fact that another male thinks he's sexy or wants to engage in sexual activity with him. If he is on the receiving end of that type of harassment he will more than likely be far to embarrassed to say anything because of the kidding or jokes that would follow him if it were common knowledge. I know nothing of female/female type harassment so I make no comment about that issue.

R. McDonald
Vulnerable, yes! But in the real world it seems unlikely, and in fact happpens more to straight bosses. At least that is my observation. In my case I have only had concerns durring termination of an individual. But I have yet to have an isssue. And I am proud to say that ALL of my "Management Staff" who work under me would back me to the hilt! All of whom are straight. And yes that even includes a few Bible Thumping Anti Gay types!

Anonymous
I think women would be more likely to claim sexual harassment than men. It is still not really acceptable to be sexually harassed as a man, since men are not "supposed" to be victims, but rather the aggressors

Anonymous
Well, I have no idea, I mean I don't think it would be any different than a straight male boss. There are alot of unknowns when discussing something like this.

Boone Lodge & Bill Sullivan
We owned a bottled water business for years. Both male, we have been life partners for 30 years. In the early 90's we were sued by a female employee, who had been discharged for absenteeism. She sued us for sexual harrassment in retaliation on the basis of hostile work place and foul language, and WON! Her female lawyer's main argument, falsely so, was that, since we were gay, we hated women, and had fired her because of that, and the jury believed her!

Anonymous
Only if they act more inappropriately than their straight counterparts.

Matthew
Unfortunately the majority of americans (a very slight majority) believe that homosexuality = no morality and therefore gays are more likely to be pedophiles, sexually abuse people ect.. I mean just look at the craig case which got blown out of proportions b/c he was "supposed" to be gay as part of his republican senator stance.

Buzz
The following have been proven by statistics, straights commit a higher percentage of child sex crimes that gays based on their percentage of the population, solicitation for sex in public men's rooms is more frequently done by hetros than homos, and the preoccupation of the very word "sex" being considered dirty is a part of the straight "lifestyle." So why would the instances of gay's being prone to sexual harrassment be greater than their straight counterparts? The very fact that The Advocate would pose such a homophobic poll is in itself revolting!!!!

Vinnie
There is an unfounded perception that gay men are sexual predators. Even an encouraging pat on the shoulder might be seen as a sexual advance by a gay boss that would not exist with a straight boss.

Anonymous
I do not believe this to be the case, but I can see where the job environment could have a direct impact. In an office setting where the workforce is predominantly female, I have only witness one person dismissed and his actions were blatant. However, in an environment where the predominant workforce is male it is easy to see how many workers might feel threatened by a gay boss. I beleive this not only impacts gays, but also the women that enter these highly male dominated professions.

Anonymous
you just have to be more careful

FU
Will you please come up with an intelligent poll??? This is so annoying.

Mario
This is the sort of question that could probably be easily answered with a statistical study. I don't know the answer and really have no basis for speculating.

Anonymous
Persons once eager to "experiment" have been known to attack in order to bolster their own denial.

Adam
It all boils down to the employee's comfort of having to report to a GLBT supervisor...but generally, yes... the organization and the public will make the 'boss' more vulnerable.

Anonymous
Especially in industries and areas that are less open; if the worker receives correction from the manager, or has a disagreement with a gay boss, it's easy to talk about unsubstantiated touches, looks or gestures that can be difficult to disprove. The gay boss has to be that much more aware of their actions in the workplace.

Anonymous
I've worked many places in my career. I've had gay bosses and never new it until after I left the workplace. At work I'm concentrating on my work and don't think about who's gay or straight, it just doesn't matter. When hearing such gossip the best thing to do is to be silent. Is a woman who dresses showing a large cleavage more vulnerable to harassment than a woman who does not? Well, perhaps.

Mark
I say, "No" because I believe that to be the present state. However, I do believe that "straight-guy America" is catching on to this 'politically correct' method of attacking gays and that you'll see it increase exponentially over the next several years.

Anonymous
it is their attitude and actions that make a person more vulnerable to charges

John Garlington
As with all cultural evolutions, particularly, if you’re out about one’s sexual orientation at the workplace, there is that possibility that someone can interpret one’s actions negatively, particularly, if you have to reprimand a subordinate. As in most of our lives, homosexuals have had to have the sixth sense to anticipate outcomes prior to them unfolding and there are professional boundaries that you can implement to protect yourself from unfound accusations. If those boundaries are breeched then the outcome could be potentially harmful for one’s reputation as a supervisor with a company. In the end, keep it professional. Answer. No!

John Garlington
As with all cultural evolutions, particularly, if you’re out about one’s sexual orientation at the workplace, there is that possibility that someone can interpret one’s actions negatively, particularly, if you have to reprimand a subordinate. As in most of our lives, homosexuals have had to have the sixth sense to anticipate outcomes prior to them unfolding and there are professional boundaries that you can implement to protect yourself from unfound accusations. If those boundaries are breeched then the outcome could be potentially harmful for one’s reputation as a supervisor with a company. In the end, keep it professional. Answer. No!

Tony
No, most harrassment accusations come from women who feel quite comfortable around gay men (on the whole). If anything they're much less vulnerable

Anonymous
I believe gay bosses are especially vulnerable to sexual harassment charges versus their straight counterparts particularly because of society's biases towards gay people's sexuality and behavior. The uneducated straight person often mistakenly equates our homosexuality as outside the standard norm of sexual practice and that everything "gay" always has a sexual motive toward a straight person. But as homosexuality slowly finds its way among the normal things in society perhaps views will change.

Patrick Muller
People are more likely to be apathetic to, enthusiastic for, or sympathetic of the report of a straight supervisor come-on and blow it off or put some of the burden on the receiver. In the case of a same-sex come on, people are willing to attack the supervisor with harrassment charges faster than the GOP abandoned Larry Craig.

Andy
Yes, only because of prejudice and prejudgment in the general population, where gay people play Russian Roulette every time we enter the court system, whether we have a jury or a non-jury (judge only) trial. A gay boss (or anyone) would always be vulnerable if the person(s) deciding guilt or innocence has decided before the trial ever begins that all gay people are guilty/sinners/bad people. Remember the judges who found murderers not guilty or charges reduced to minor offenses because of the "gay panic defense?"

Anonymous
I don't believe so.

Anonymous
I think gay bosses worry enough about their status and job and are less likely to do anything that may give others cause for targeting them and accusing them of harassment which may jeopardize all the progress they made to get to where they are.

Mark
I think they probably are when it comes to other straigh subordinates, particularly subordinates who are homophobic.

Anonymous
I was accused of "outing" a straight employee, who in response to the rumor of what I supposedly had done, went to my boss and threatened to kill me, TWICE. The man was not fired and police were not called. He left soon afterwards and is now a baptist minister.

Heidi Heil
I think so. I have over 200 employees and I am always worried that somebody might get ticked off and try to make up something just to get back at me for having disciplined them.

Tom
As a VP of my company, I have found that yes, we are more vunerable, especailly with gay co-workers. We all tend to "camp it up" so to speak, and slip up with THOSE comments and slurs. Keep it clean, professional and by the book. Straight or GAY!

Anonymous
maybe not to their face at first but down the road after they get to know the boss better yes

Anonymous
But false charges might be believed more readily.

Anonymous
In my experience as an employer I've actually been granted more leniency in the realm of sexual harassment compared to my straight counterparts. I often heard, 'he can say that because he's gay' as though my sexuality deamed me harmless.

Rick
NO! Their are more heterosexual bosses than gay ones. 1 in 10 remember!

DB
As a Gay employer, my attorney's have always cautioned me on being friendly to male employees, seeing them socially if even harmless, and even touching them as in a friendly pat on the back. If my heterosexual employees find out I am gay, I am a natural target for extortion, or worse accusations, especially if I fire them for poor performance. Gay employees can also pose potential problems as well. I had one former employee who thought he could find his way to a quick settlement by just the threat of sexual harrassment in a letter from his attorney. None of the accusations were even remotely true, but it did not matter. At the time I did not have sexual harrassment insurance, and I was fortunate to have great attorney's who made sure this person did not see a dime. I do carrry very expensive wrongful termination and sexual harrassment insurance just in case. I do not like living this way, but in this day and age of frivoulous sexual harrassment and disreputable law suits you must be careful. As a gay employer, you are a definite target.

joe
Probably not more vulnerable than straight women bosses, although the gay 'sub-culture' may be more 'allowing' of these kind of advances (that is to be seen)... I wouldn't try to seduce my gay boss, that is for sure ;)

Steve H
In my experience, straight men are much too quick to assume that gay men are sexually interested in them or all other men, giving credance to even ridiculous claims of harassment.

Anonymous
I beleive they are because many straight men are homophobic to some degree. They tend to view what would typically be seen as a gesture of support or encouragement from a heterosexual man, such as a hand on the shoulder or a pat on the back, as a threat or being hit on if coming from a gay man.

j
because being gay is still viewed as a negative thing, people perceive that gay people are vulnerable, this view transferring to bosses. All that someone would have to say is that you made an unwarranted pass at them and with the underlying negative thoughts, you are believed to be guilty until innocent.

Paul
I'm a gay general manager, I tell all employees during interviews that we are gay freindly establishment. That I'm gay but that I can appreciate the straight sensablity, A ggod lokking woman or good looking man is still goodlookingand that I'm not blind....LOL. I also tell people during the interview that the staff can always tell me to F Off & Die. Then I'll ask whats wrong and lets solve it. I've never had a problem with an employee or an employer because I'm up front and honest from the start of the working relationship. If you're uncomfortable with me then lets not start a working relationship. I can find jobs elsewhere. I think you can ask any of my employees what they think of me and gay would not be the first thing out of their mouths. I hope that fair and straight forward are 2 words that they use to define me when it come to employee relations.

Anonymous
Yes, because of the notion that gay men are sexual perverts and all we think about is sex; therefore it would be easier to believe any charges of sexual harassment.

Stephen from Louisiana
Out Gay Bosses are most definately at a greater risk as people realize that there are still so many sociatal misgivings about our acceptance that they prey on that predjudice by falsly claiming an offense when none was intended.

Paul
I think all bosses, gay and straight, have to be careful of appearances of harassment. In the case of gay men, we tend to be friendlier and get closer to people as a rule, so the appearance of intimacy might be misconstrued by male employees. I was accused years ago of coming on to a guy after I fired him for incompetence. I hadn't come on to him, but because I was gay, it was a convenient scapegoat to cover up his poor job performance.

Barbara
I don't have any personal experience or even anecdotal information on this topic, but would like to learn more about it, including a breakdown for both gay men and lesbians.

Tom
I was a Gay boss who watched straight guys making asses of themselves and getting in trouble for it. I work when I'm at work and treat everyone with the respect they deserve, and look for playmates elsewhere. Better safe than sorry.

Lawre in Connecticut
I don't believe so, at least not so long as the gay boss is open and out to all the employees. When that happens there's no "dirty little secret" that can be used for black-mail. I'm gay and have had gay and bi bosses in the past. When things at work are left on a business level, such as they should be regardless of str8 or gay, then there are no issues. I have socialized after work with these bosses and have gone to bars with them, and we understood our bounderies.

Michael Schecter
The ratio of applicants for employees I hire is about 99 females / 1 male, so for the last sixteen years I've only had female assistants. And I seriously doubt it has crossed any of their minds.

Anonymous
Yes. I think that with the anti gay sentiment in this country that , especially towards gay men, makes it alot easier . If a male employee gets mad or extremely upset with his boss( gay male) and he cries sexual harrassment I think the courts and the companies will be ready to conclude guilt alot faster than if it involved a straight boss and an employee.

Rob
I was a gay boss for years. There are two things you need to do. First, be out at work, and make sure that people who are coming to work for you know it. And second, work is no place to find a partner or a sexual encounter, so keep your hands and mind off your staff.

Anodyne
It is an easy target for a disgruntled employee to attack.

Anonymous
I believe it is what ever the personality of the boss that makes a person a harasser. There are an equal amount in both straight and gay.

Anonymous
I was an openly gay "boss" for 20 years, many in senior management and I never had a problem.

Anonymous
we keep out of troble by keeping our eyes on the bussines and on our employes' eyes and smiles frank and open; the converse happens when openly or on the sly we "supervise" their asses and flies. a big no-no whatever orientation they are.

Jim
I have dealt with harassment before and since coming into management. Discrimination is not limited to class or position. The most annoying thing for me is people who ask "Are you gay"? with a look of I dare you to say yes. My reply is I'd hate to see this become a problem for you. Shut's em up!

Anonymous
definitely yes. straight men do most of the sexual harassing, and most women won't feel empowered enough to complain. they don't want to be a 'bitch' after all. a slight raunchy joke from a lesbian boss though, she won't take it as 'what guys do' and a gay boss towards a man, I mean half those employees are just waiting for a reason to complain about their gay boss.

Steve
I don't see any revelance here as to whether the boss is striaght or gay.

jen
I think the best illustration of my opinion is gay or lesbian coaches who have been disciplined or fired for having relationships with players. I disapprove of coaches or teachers having a relationship with students due to the power differential, but it appears that the media make a bigger deal when the coach or teacher is gay or lesbian, than when they are hetero.

Anonymous
Female bosses more than male due to the "straight" male ego and the prospect of being linked to a gay man.

Sandy
All bosses need to behave themselves. Given proper training and management controls, sexual harassment investigations should be able to differentiate between "gay boss" sexual harassment and false harassment claims generated by homophobic employees.

Doug Johnson
Yes, if the harassment charges are reported to a straight male. Straights seem to believe that nearly all gays are attracted to nearly all males. Not true. But if they buy into that, they are more apt to accept the harassment allegations. This makes us more vulnerable.

chandler
Because of the clause that states that something that creates an uncomfortable work environment due to sexuality constitutes harassment it means that every fucking homophobe has a right to file against any gay they feel "flaunts" their sexuality. It happened to me twice before the sodomy repeal. I have only worked in gay positive jobs since, where it has never allowed to be an issue.

Harold
It occurs on all levels and everyone needs to be careful how they present themselves.

javier
I worked for a closeted gay company and they hired only bi and gay. Anyone found to be straight was canned,giving the pres,vp and everyone else the ability to harrass like hell and declare executive privelege.

Anonymous
I have never heard of a gay supervisor in any of the companies or universities in which I worked being charged with harassment. I have however heard numerous stories, predominantly about male bosses, being charged with sexual harassment. Even a few with harassment against gays.

Cathy
I think anyone who is gay, and out at work, is much more vulnerable than heteropeople when it comes to sexual harassment charges. That is just my opinion, but I am just new to being gay, and have found that people at work are VERY open about who they hate. I am assumed to be straight, so am included in the "jokes" against other gay people. When I speak out about it, the guns get pointed to me. I have been through two jobs since June.

Anonymous
I was an academic vice president and had allegations made by a woman against me. It never went to court and there was alot of public attention. It was not a good situation and the boad and president became invisible and silent.

Anonymous
This has been my experience when working with students.

Anonymous
I also had an employee who tried to use my sexuality as way to claim discrimination on the basis that I was "heterophobic". Fortunately we were able to prove that there was no basis to this claim!!

bill
It depends on whether they are out or not. If they are out, I don't think they are more likely.

Anonymous
I don't see why they would be any more or less vulnerable. As a gay boss myself, any sexual or romantic advances in the work place should be viewed no differently than if I was hetero or homosexual.

angry lady
I worked at the Ralph Elisson library in Oklahoma City. The head librarian named Suzy Beasley sexually harrassed me on several occasions. I am female. It totally sickened me.

Anonymous
My boss is closeted (although we all know) and refuses to come out because he is worried that his affectiveness will be tarnished. I'm out and proud to all my co-workers and none of them care. In fact, I have been thanked for it because I have answered many questions that they were affraid to ask. I am actually the front receptionist and I have the HRC equal sign on my desk for all to see. I have even had gay clients say that seeing the sticker made them more comfortable. I do respect my boss' position, but I strongly hope he is wrong on this one.

Bob Green
I would hope we are less likely. We should be more aware and sensitive about this issue than straight men and more verbally opposed to the behavior. That attitude should make it clear to our subordinates that the behavior isn't going to be tolerated by us let alone something we'd do ourselves.

Nate
Yes. In my engineering business, you hardly see any women anyway, so there's a double whammy for a gay boss. OTOH, engineers aren't very sexual at work anyway, so it would be hard to tell.

Anonymous
Yes, but only if they're gay males.

Anonymous
of course they are

Anonymous
I did not give a young guy a raise and the next year I have defend myself accused of sexual harasement. At 41, I was first fired with no explaination, until the 21 yo finally wanted more money then they tell me why I was fired. Because he accused me of sexual harrasement. After over a year of deposing witnesses, nothing was proved, but I was out of a job and he got $10,000 from the company to make it go away. I felt totally abused.

Anonymous
Ask Senator Larry Craig---a member of the Senate that supervises the activities of a vast federal government---who was brought up in an Idaho that most closely resembles "Brokeback Mountain" (like the 33 states where gay people still live in fear of losing their jobs and maybe even their lives). If one keeps in mind that in Amsterdam, "crimes" such as the one that the Senator has presumably committed (and which I know are not only committed by married gay men but also by openly gay men--in about equal percentages) are not even prosecuted, one will start to understand how the Senator (despite his detestable hypocrisy in supporting anti-gay marriage laws, as well as opposing hate crimes laws) is in fact a victim of a culture that still despises gay people.

Anonymous
yes, because queens can be bitchy and suffer from a sense of entitlement.

ADAM A KARU
NO! I am a boss most of my life and never had anything negative being HOMO. There for I agree with Chuck Kaelin:

Anonymous
Only if they are closeted.

Chuck Kaelin
How you carry yourself in all situations makes the difference. Treat everyone with respect, don't indulge in inappropriate joking, treat the workplace as a worksplace.

Chuck Kaelin
How you carry yourself in all situations makes the difference. Treat everyone with respect, don't indulge in inappropriate joking, treat the workplace as a worksplace.

Chuck Kaelin
How you carry yourself in all situations makes the difference. Treat everyone with respect, don't indulge in inappropriate joking, treat the workplace as a worksplace.

Chuck Kaelin
How you carry yourself in all situations makes the difference. Treat everyone with respect, don't indulge in inappropriate joking, treat the workplace as a worksplace.

Anonymous
I think they would be because of discrimination. Some straight men hate gay people so much that they would claim sexual harassments just because of that hate. It doesn't have to be proven, the claim alone can destroy the Gay boss and that is the intent of the a claim of sexual harassment. I guy can look at a straight guy in a care free way, and the straight guy will assume it's sexual harassment because they are insecure with their sexuality. Gay men are more open, and some times that openness can be misconstrued by the straight guy as sexual harassment. Now, if a guy groped another then yes that is sexual harassment, and that needs to be proven, but like I said if they want to destroy a guy boss the claim alone can do it because of our society.

Robert Brundige
I am from a small town in Kentucky. That's right, no openly gay bosses. They crucified me at the end of 15 years of service. Thank you.

Brain Gain
Questions like this are ludicrous because they are inquiring about something which can be investigated empirically. That is, the issue can be researched, data gathered and analyzed - then we would know. Otherwise, all that is being compiled here are opinions. You just as well ask, "Is the world flat?" It wouldn't matter if 100% of those polled believed that the world is flat, because the fact of the matter is different from the opinions about the matter. It would be far more interesting if you would have one of your reporters actually investigate this issue and give us the results.

Anonymous
Yes, due to ignorance and fear but we have actually experienced gay bosses being more critical and condemning of gay employees.

Anonymous
Yes, due to ignorance and fear but we have actually experienced gay bosses being more critical and condemning of gay employees.

C. Granger
I haven't seen any data that is compelling one way or the other.

Anonymous
Anyone in the position knows that some employees are going to be hostile and to some extent delusional toward you.

riffraf002
Yes a gay or non gay employe can sue if they didnot perform their job up to standards.

Xyanth
I have not, yet, had a gay-boss. So I must say I have no idea. I think most str8 men who are in this position are far more vulnerable.

Albert Shoars
As a guy supervisor I try to be more cautious of the comments i make in front of my male employees, so not to offend them. I live in a small rural county that is not completely acceptant of homosexuallity.

Anonymous
if you are a homophobic straight or just dont like them and want to get your gay boss in trouble.

Anonymous
Gay or lesbian anyone, bosses included, are more likely to catch hell because of antigay bigotry. Homophobia, racism, misogyny etc. are ingrained in American culture and many Americans personalities. Antigay hatred has its origins in the sanctimonious ignorance of christians, and won’t go away until christian churches are suppressed. We should support everyone who’s a victim of false charges even if, like most bosses, they’re chickenshit bullies who sold their souls for 30 pieces of silver and enjoy lording it over working people. If they’re falsely charged we should stand up for them. Unless something more important is going on, like a union meeting, or a TV show, or a sudden need to floss etc.

Anonymous
why would they be?

terry
I'm inclined to agree. Unfortunately, too many straight, unattractive men automatically assume every woman and gay man wants to get into their pants. Yeah right!

John L Turner, MD
Sexual harassment from whom - when - why? I'm Gay and was a 'boss' in at least four or five (maybe more -- depending upon the situation of being a 'boss -- where, doing what, and so on). These jobs/organizations/u.s.w. would date back to about 1977. The answer from me is a definite, "No". John L Turner, MD Deptford, New Jersey

Robyn Ochs
Yes, because straight people tend to exaggerate the sexual part of our identities. And furthermore, the actions of an idividual sexual harasser who happens to be gay is likely to be seen as reflecting on ALL gay people, whle he actions of an idividual sexual harasser who happens to be straight is not.

Anonymous
Having been a manager to 25 associates in Seattle, Portland and San Francisco, I can tell you that (out) gay bosses certainly have to be careful. Given that, I think straight bosses screw up in that area more than gay bosses anyway.

Anonymous
It seems to me that Homophobic bigots have come out of the woodwork lately at the prodding of the Christian Right to throw a curve in front of the fast moving train of Gay Rights that continue to show strong support from the younger generation while stiking fear at the hearts of Right Wing Bigots!

Anonymous
Especially if they have biggots working under them. No pun intended.

randy
women, IN GENERAL, are more likely to see themselves as victims of sexual harassment than men. Also, women are more likely to proclaim themselves victims of sexual harassment. All men. gay AND straight, are generally viewed as sexual predators. Men are more uncomfortable proclaiming themselves victims. Gay bosses , however, ARE treated more harshly than straight bosses if they are accused.

Dave
We haven't learned to control our urges. We've been kept in the shadows for so long, our self discipline may need to be fine tuned. In addition, many masculine straights may feel themselves inferior working for a gay supervisor; therefore, could present untruths to others and possibly create a hostile environment. As a gay supervisor in a strict, rigid workplace, it is necessary to "hide" my sexuality to prevent the ridicule and lies that may lead to my reassignment or dismissal.

Kevin Olomon
I don't see how. In any market out there one hears of far more male on female cases than any other configuration.

Max Evans
Yes, absolutely yes!

richard whatley
Lets face it, there's still this perception that gay men are all sexual predators. Add the closet cases that actually act like sexual predators and it only reinforces the prejudice in people's mind.

Michael
most of the time sexually harassing a male is not consider as sexual harassment by most of the str8 world

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February 22, 2008
MRSA
Have you ever had a MRSA infection?

January 25, 2008
Hate Speech
Do you think hate speech in the blogosphere should be censored?

January 14, 2008
Taking HIV Seriously
Do you think people are taking HIV less seriously now that they see it as a manageable disease?

December 18, 2007
2007
Was 2007 a turning point for gay rights?

December 10, 2007
Your Vote?
Who are you backing for president?

November 16, 2007
Health Insurance
Does your company offer domestic -partner insurance?

November 7, 2007
Candidates' Antigay Stances
Are the candidates' antigay stances genuine or a ploy to get votes?

October 19, 2007
Halloween
Do you feel that straights spoil the gay Halloween experience?

October 5, 2007
LGBT Policies
Do you research a company's LGBT policies before buying?

September 24, 2007
Sexual Fluidity
Is sexuality naturally more fluid for women than men?

September 11, 2007
Craig a lawbreaker?
Do you think Sen. Larry Craig is guilty of committing a crime?

August 24, 2007
Sexual harassment
Are gay bosses more vulnerable to sexual harassment charges than straight bosses?

August 10, 2007
Faith-based
Do you consider yourself a faith-based voter?

July 19, 2007
Female sex symbol
Who is the next great female sex symbol?

July 9, 2007
Severing ties
Does it matter if the Anglican Communion severs ties with the Episcopal Church?