Your sexual orientation is your business; it’s not your employer’s. At the same time, it’s 2018, and you shouldn’t have to hide your sexual preference as if it’s something to be ashamed of. But many Florida workers continue to hide this aspect of their lives for fear of suffering a negative, discriminatory consequence at their workplaces – and with good reason. Neither federal nor Florida law protects workers from discriminatory practices.
It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and heterosexual individuals cannot pursue any kind of anti-discrimination protections if they find themselves facing harassment, termination, loss of promotion opportunities, reduced pay and other forms of discrimination at their workplaces.
However, there are a couple of exceptions to this, and if one of these exceptions applies to you – and you’re in danger of sexual orientation discrimination – then you can breathe a sigh of relief. Some Florida cities and counties have anti-discrimination laws on their books that prohibit sexual orientation discrimination. Also, if you’re a federal employee, then you’re also protected from this vile treatment at work.
If you’re being victimized like this – and you don’t have specific anti-discrimination protectionsthat apply to you – you shouldn’t give up hope. In some circumstances, you may be able to apply other kinds of laws to your situation to fight back against the abuse. By better understanding your legal rights under the law, you can evaluate whether your employer could be financially liable to pay you damages relating to the mistreatment you have endured. In some cases, you may even be able to get your job back if you experienced a wrongful termination.
Source: Findlaw, “Sexual Orientation Discrimination in Employment,” accessed June 08, 2018
