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The Equality Act, a piece of legislation prohibitting workplace discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals, was recently passed by the House of Representatives.
To gather support for the bill as it's considered by the Senate, Chasten Buttigieg, husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, shared the story of one uncomfortable interaction he had while in the workplace.
I’ll never forget when an assistant manager found out I was gay in the break room, marched out onto the floor, came… https://t.co/KGeKmnTHNT— Chasten Glezman Buttigieg (@Chasten Glezman Buttigieg) 1614193233.0
At the time, it would have been legal in far too many places in America for them to simply show me the door. It is… https://t.co/Ik7JKNAvwa— Chasten Glezman Buttigieg (@Chasten Glezman Buttigieg) 1614193233.0
https://t.co/I64gs5lUGS— Chasten Glezman Buttigieg (@Chasten Glezman Buttigieg) 1614193233.0
Buttigieg shared a memory from work where his boss found out about his sexuality in the breakroom before marching out and confronting him with a slur.
According to Buttigieg, it was fortunate that, despite his language, his boss chose not to fire him on the spot. At that time, it would have been perfectly legal for the supervisor to fire him simply because he was gay.
@Chasten I live in Houston, Texas. I have friends that still have to be careful. They could loose their jobs or the… https://t.co/IDhbK2OFzy— Elizabeth **Fur Mom** Cook (@Elizabeth **Fur Mom** Cook) 1614201482.0
@ec2242001_cook @Chasten Went to a conference 5 years ago in a major city. Sat down at LGBTQ lunch talk. They said… https://t.co/a8VZYql8yc— clc5tsh (@clc5tsh) 1614203386.0
Many Twitter users, picking up on Buttigieg's message, shared their own memories of workplace discrimination.
@Chasten A former supervisor of mine (the good ole fashioned straight white male), before I was out, asked me if I… https://t.co/8zRVnKzGVx— Ryan Nolen (@Ryan Nolen) 1614196587.0
@Chasten And that is why we need government, because unfortunately you cannot trust some people to do the right thi… https://t.co/uJGHpUXagQ— BriBri 🇺🇸BidenHarris🇺🇸 (@BriBri 🇺🇸BidenHarris🇺🇸) 1614206311.0
Though the Supreme Court ruling Bostock v. Clayton County has protected LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation since last year, the Equality Act would codify that decision into law.
@Chasten A shift manager found out I was gay not long after I was forced out of the closet and went ballistic on me… https://t.co/CwbB47lp8l— Kellie Greenberg (@Kellie Greenberg) 1614196897.0
@Chasten Proud mom of a gay son here! I get enraged hearing these stories. Homophobia, like racism is a sickness. Period.— Scarlette (@Scarlette) 1614201566.0
@Chasten Can't tell you how far I've been in the closet at work over decades and decades, compounded by being femal… https://t.co/UlcBcQ6V4J— Megz 🐝😷🏳️🌈♿ (@Megz 🐝😷🏳️🌈♿) 1614193503.0
Many people online hoped that LGBTQ+ communities would receive the protections they deserve.
@Chasten That's why we need laws and not to try to change the minds of people. There is a rule in social psychology… https://t.co/ZyB6ueSktD— njevancik (@njevancik) 1614203372.0
@Chasten I am so horrified for you and every LGBTQ person who has suffered like this. I wish I could say sorry for humankind.— Lexie (@Lexie) 1614193296.0
Discrimination on the basis of sexuality is never acceptable.
@Chasten Do you know how many moms on #TeamPete want to slug them right now? 😠— 🐝Sue Ann Rawlins ✈️🚅🚐 (@🐝Sue Ann Rawlins ✈️🚅🚐) 1614194077.0
The Equality Act's future in the Senate, where Democrats hold an extremely narrow 51-50 majority (with Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote), remains uncertain.