On the other hand, my relative say, “As long as people don’t know you are gay, you find out what they really think.”

The absolute last frontier of tolerance is so overlooked, and yet so basic. We clamor for religious tolerance (which given the parochial concerns and claims of all faiths, is akin to impossible), but short shrift (and outright hostility) is routinely
given to any who openly reject any and all such grand and ridiculous claims. I’d like to see some ink (pixels) splashed about onthe matter of the much maligned and abused freethinker in corporate AmeriKKKa and the wider culture. For a nation established on the preimise of now establishment of an state religion, we’ve certainly dropped the ball on the score of truly embracing free and unreserved consideration of just what relative merits religious faith offers as opposed to all of the very real damge (homophobia, racism, sexism among the lot) nearly all religions instill in the faithful.

Well, so long as you’re about diversity, I shouold like to see a bit of attention given to that matter.

Keeping your personal life and professional life completely separate is very difficult, and no one, regardless of the reason, should feel as if he/she should have to do that! The camaraderie I feel with my teammates is partly because we share pieces of our personal lives together. If I found out a teammate did not share his/her personal stories with me because he/she is afraid of how I would react, I would feel deeply saddened. My role as a coworker and friend is never as judge, but simply as someone who feels and lives through similar events and circumstances as those around me.

But it is because some people are afraid, or close-minded, or downright stupid that the diversity training is a must! Saying that it’s propaganda is ridiculous. No one is trying to sway your beliefs! No one is attempting to make you believe something you don’t. The training is designed as an educational tool, promoting tolerance and inclusion.

Get off your soap box and realize that the people around you, regardless of skin color, cultural background, religious beliefs and sexual orientation, are simply living their lives, making it through each day one step at a time, just like you.