Does Homophobia Affect Career Choices? Survey Says...Yes

From Pink News:

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are choosing not to enter professions such as teaching for fear of homophobia, research has found.

According to a study commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), only 51 per cent of lesbians, 52 per cent of gay men, 44 per cent of bisexual women and 10 per cent of bisexual men felt they could be open about their sexuality in schools, colleges or universities.

In higher education, 33 per cent of LGB staff reported negativity about their sexual orientation from colleagues. Eighteen per cent said that students were negative about their sexual orientation.

Respondents said that teaching and working with children was negatively associated with public debate about the teaching of gay issues in schools and parents' reactions to their children being taught by an LGB person.

Other professions which gay and bisexual people were reluctant to enter included the police services, the armed forces and manual trades.

The reasons cited for this were perceptions of homophobia, working culture and organisational policies.

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