Coming out to colleagues

[sebastiality]

Yay or nay?

I have no idea how to - or even if I should - come out to colleagues. It's East Asia. Taiwan is among the most liberal in Asia. I do know (of) other teachers who are gays. I should probably ask them.

Comments

[ayearalone]

Yeah, asking them would be a good idea. It kind of depends on the culture around you and the level of heteronormativity around you.

[sebastiality]

Good points. I still don't yet. People keep asking if I have a girlfriend. I know it's an East Asian thing but I still find it offensive.

[ayearalone]

People did that to me in Japan and people that I'm not out too do that in the U.S. as well. It's super offensive. And you can't really be very blunt or sarcastic in your reply unless you know the person very well. If you're already having a bad and/or stressful day when people ask a question that assumes you are straight it just makes you feel even worse.

[sebastiality]

It really does make it more stressful. People have done it to me in the UK but I wouldn't have any qualms about coming out there. It's because I'm so far away and working with people who speak a language that I don't understand most of the time.

I'll see how it goes.

[sebastiality]

Yes, you're right.
They do keep asking if I have/want a girlfriend. I thought people could infer from answers such as "I'm not really interested".