Belarusian activist claims he was fired from the British American Tobacco for being gay
20/10/2011
Submitted by
Viachaslau Bortnik
Alexander Poluyan, gay activist and the editor of Belarusian gay-lesbi portal GAYBY.NET has been suggested to leave by mutual agreement with a company where he has been working as manager in the department of corporate communications (CORA).
Alexander Poluyan started to work at the company in August. Last Tuesday, he was invited by the chief of the department and was suggested to write a discharge letter with his own hand.
The reason is banal – "we can't worked in command".
As Alexander says, his dismissal is connected with his untraditional orientation, and this information became known to his boss.
«There weren’t any reason for dismissal connected with failure to carry out the duties. And I’ve never concealed my sexual orientation, but I also do not speak about it till somebody ask,» Alexander says.
«The only explanation of this fact was that my boss had found out I am gay and I conduct active work in LGBT community of my country. I made it clear to other employees of the company,» Alexander added.
«The offer to write a discharge letter was a big surprise for me as well as a true reason for this request. British American Tobacco is a big international corporation that works in many countries in the world, including those countries where there isn’t strong homophobia towards same-sex relations, gays and lesbians. There is even the internal LGBT-group in the company in Belarus, therefore such relation to the employees who are gays is humiliating.
«Having 8-year work experience, I’ve never faced a similar problem. My colleagues and friends have always known and know that I’m a gay, I live with my partner and that I am engaged in LGBT activism. This case shows real position of homosexuals in the country where even employees of the international company, widely declaring about nondiscrimination on any basis, can't accept a homosexual person in the command. What should be said about conditions gays and lesbians are who work at public establishments?!» said Alexander.
«Many people ask us what kind of homophobia we have in our country?» «What are the oppressions of gays and lesbians?» Once again I felt this situation and I can share personal experience,» adds Alexander.
Original article: http://www.news.gayby.net/news/2011-10-19-4911
Alexander Poluyan started to work at the company in August. Last Tuesday, he was invited by the chief of the department and was suggested to write a discharge letter with his own hand.
The reason is banal – "we can't worked in command".
As Alexander says, his dismissal is connected with his untraditional orientation, and this information became known to his boss.
«There weren’t any reason for dismissal connected with failure to carry out the duties. And I’ve never concealed my sexual orientation, but I also do not speak about it till somebody ask,» Alexander says.
«The only explanation of this fact was that my boss had found out I am gay and I conduct active work in LGBT community of my country. I made it clear to other employees of the company,» Alexander added.
«The offer to write a discharge letter was a big surprise for me as well as a true reason for this request. British American Tobacco is a big international corporation that works in many countries in the world, including those countries where there isn’t strong homophobia towards same-sex relations, gays and lesbians. There is even the internal LGBT-group in the company in Belarus, therefore such relation to the employees who are gays is humiliating.
«Having 8-year work experience, I’ve never faced a similar problem. My colleagues and friends have always known and know that I’m a gay, I live with my partner and that I am engaged in LGBT activism. This case shows real position of homosexuals in the country where even employees of the international company, widely declaring about nondiscrimination on any basis, can't accept a homosexual person in the command. What should be said about conditions gays and lesbians are who work at public establishments?!» said Alexander.
«Many people ask us what kind of homophobia we have in our country?» «What are the oppressions of gays and lesbians?» Once again I felt this situation and I can share personal experience,» adds Alexander.
Original article: http://www.news.gayby.net/news/2011-10-19-4911
