YASEMİN DİKİCİ*
Fear of being dismissed and unable to find a new job, verbal and physical harassment, daily bullying... LGBTQ workers have to struggle with different forms of discrimination in the workplace.
These findings and instances have been documented in a 2022 research endeavor undertaken by the Kaos GL Association, focusing its lens on the professional experiences of LGBTQ individuals across both public and private sectors.
For instance, a survey encompassing 289 participants from the private sector shows the picture: a mere 27 percent of LGBTQ employees dare to openly express their identities within their workplace. The specter of unemployment looms large over the LGBTQ workforce, exacerbating anxieties regarding job loss and the associated struggle to find new opportunities.
In a survey of 221 public sector employees, 63 percent of LGBTQ individuals reported experiencing hate speech at work due to concealing their identity.
Our interviews with LGBTQ individuals in Van reveal similar experiences to those highlighted in the Kaos GL Association's report.
"I am being tagged in every job application."
Ceyla is 25 years old. She said that she was marginalized in every job application, that she received “immoral offers" and that all of this functioned as a "profiling".
In Turkey's challenging economic conditions with high unemployment, Ceyla highlighted the additional difficulties that LGBTQ individuals face in securing employment:
"I'm having trouble finding a job in Van. I used to work at a beauty salon that promised to provide insurance and a steady salary, but after just a month or two, they let me go. They are aware that I didn't have anyone to back me up, and that the law wouldn't safeguard my rights even if I sought my rights. This reality hit me hard. As a young person, I feel like there's no hope for me here. I'm considering going to Europe where I can find work and live more freely."
"I hear laughter from colleagues behind me while at work"
Şivan feels fortunate to be employed as a civil servant by the government.
Şivan reported that he experienced verbal harassment during job applications and at his previous workplace.
"I returned from every job interview disheartened. Some employers have made inappropriate propositions. I was constantly asked about my personal life. I started working at a place for a few days. I was so surprised - I thought, 'Why did the boss hire me?' Then I resigned when it became clear that the man had bad intentions."
Despite holding a job, Şivan still faces discriminatory rhetoric at work. He described how his coworkers frequently engage in behind-the-back mockery and laughter, and directly admonish him with phrases like "Don't curl up" and "Don't laugh":
"I'm alone in my assigned place. People come and give me advice, tell me that this is a heresy... I hear hate speech almost every day. 'Sign of the apocalypse', 'disturbers of social order', 'immoral people'..."
"Nobody takes us seriously"
Similar to Ceyla and Şivan, 24-year-old Ertuğrul lamented frequent encounters with sexual harassment, which he characterized as 'indecent proposals,':
"I found a job in a café in Edirne, away from my family. The cafe staff treated me kindly, but some customers could be quite hurtful, engaging in constant gossip about me. After a few months, I returned to my hometown, where I was born and raised, alongside my mother. Every job application I pursued ended in disappointment. There were promises and unsavory propositions from older men… Later I met an older man who said he would arrange a job for me. I was very happy, I was going to get a permanent job and work at the school. After a few weeks, I realized that the man had ulterior motives. No one in my circle of friends can find a job. We feel dismissed, as nobody takes us seriously or engages in meaningful discussions with us."
"I'm very happy to find a job"
Jiyan, a 36-year-old woman, feels stigmatized and unwelcome during her job search due to discrimination.
"During my first job application, I could feel their judgmental gazes from head to toe. My personal style is somewhat unconventional; my hair is short in a way associated with men, and I dress the same, but I am a woman. Curiously, job discussions always seem to veer towards unsolicited advice. I am constantly advised not to do this or that, but I am well aware of what they would say if we were alone. It's not in my nature to offend people. They may insult me but I choose to leave without offending them."
After searching for a job for an extended period, Jiyan secured a position at a call center where she has been employed for two years. She finds contentment in her role because it allows her to remain invisible, with others solely hearing her voice.
“During breaks, they call me Chief or King because I like women”
Merve is currently studying at a university in Van while working at a call center to support herself. Originally, from Mersin, Merve came to Van to pursue higher education. Later on in life, she discovered her attraction towards women and eventually shared this with her family. Fortunately, she feels grateful to have received their support and acceptance. Merve, who used to work in a café, said that men harassed her during breaks, saying things like "Hey young man, what's up, chief, you are usurping our rights".
"We exist, we will continue to exist," said Merve who shared the experiences of LGBTQ's in her close circle: "As women, we hide ourselves somehow. However, it is not that easy for men. A friend of mine applied for jobs many times and received negative feedback in all of them. In his last job application, he was told 'There is no place for faggots in our workplace'. He has a thin voice and when he talks to people, he inevitably reflects it. All we want is equality and freedom."
* YASEMİN DİKİCİ: Graduated from the Faculty of Communication, Department of Journalism at Erzurum Atatürk University. Following an internship at the Doğan News Agency's Van Bureau, she held roles as a reporter, editor, and graphic designer at several local newspapers and magazines. She is presently a freelance journalist. https://twitter.com/YaseminnDikici.
