A gay airline pilot claimed in 2005 that his place of employment fostered an anti-gay environment. After reporting anti-gay comments and graffiti, Capt. John Benisch reported the company to the Atlanta’s Human Relations Commission.\nThis incident, detailed in Andrew Keegan’s article “Airline Disputes Claim of Anti-Gay Workplace” in the Oct. 21, 2005, issue of Southern Voice, is the type of case addressed in Laura Galloway’s course on gay issues in the workplace.\nGalloway’s course is L290: Gay Issues in the Workplace in the Labor Studies Department. The class tackles issues that people of all sexual orientations deal with in the work force. In class, students look at issues from all perspectives.\nFormer student Matthew Brunner, a senior, noted that despite the subject matter, lots of heterosexual students were in the class. Brunner said he would recommend it to any student, regardless of orientation, who is interested in workplace laws.\n“I would specifically recommend it to people in the gay community who are ready to graduate,” he said.\nGalloway’s class focuses on several issues related to gay people in the workplace, such as discrimination based on sexual orientation and equal benefits. She said her goal with this class is to help students gain an understanding of what the current landscape is in this field and what the future is.\n“Employers are very much (more) ahead of these issues than legislators are,” she said.\nOne fact that Brunner said stood out to him was that there is no federal law protecting against discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation, though some city laws are in place. This is one of the most common misconceptions that Galloway said she has seen while teaching.\nBrunner noted that some classmates were unaware of the discrimination that still takes happens in the workplace.\n“I had a lot of friends in the course that were just shocked,” he said.\nThe course only meets for five weeks at the end of the semester. It consists of a mix between readings, discussions and case studies. Brunner said students should look forward to a good course and a professor who cares about the subject matter.\n“I would definitely recommend this course to everyone,” he said.\nBrunner commented that the course makes students aware of what to look for in a workplace and what questions to ask to ensure a safe, supportive environment. After taking this class, he said he feels more prepared.\n“I kind of know now what things to look for in a workplace,” Brunner said.
Course tackles gay issues in the workplace
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