Lawyers reluctant to come out at work

A recent study carried out by the Law Society and the Interlaw Diversity Forum found that, while 96% of gay men and 92% of lesbian are “out” in their personal life, only 9% of gay lawyers and 27% of lesbian lawyers are open about their sexuality at work. This is put down to the legal profession being viewed as homophobic and fears that openness about their sexuality will affect career progression.

A report in the legal weekly, The Lawyer, notes: “Some gay and lesbian lawyers ... self-exclude themselves from work crucial to business development because it will involve the tedious task of having to repeatedly out themselves when faced with the, often quite innocent, questions about the ’wife or husband’ or ’what you did at the weekend’”.

The LGB Careers Survey 2009-10 also found that one in five (17%) lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) lawyers have direct experience of homophobic abuse.