Study on working life: one in three homosexuals discriminates at work

A large proportion of gay and transgender people in Germany are still harassed and disadvantaged at work. A new study shows that many keep their gender identity a secret.

In Germany, 30 percent of homosexuals are discriminated against in their working life, among trans people it is even more than 40 percent. This was the result of a joint study by the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW) and Bielefeld University, which is available for the newspapers of the Funke media group. Almost a third of these people are still not open about their sexuality in front of their colleagues.

According to the study, gay and trans people are in paid employment to a similar degree to the rest of the heterosexual population. But they are mostly better qualified and work in other industries. The proportion of technical or university graduates in this group of people is 60 percent compared to the rest of the population of the same age at 42 percent. There are also differences in the choice of industry. Gay people work less often in manufacturing, but more often in health and social services, as well as in the arts and entertainment, than do heterosexuals.

Bullying and sexual harassment

“The figures are in line with what we know from our own surveys and from our consulting practice,” Bernhard Franke, acting director of the Federal Agency against Discrimination, told Funke newspapers. In their work life, gay and bisexual people often experience sexual harassment in addition to harassment and thus keep their gender identity a secret. “No one in Germany can be at a disadvantage because of their sexual or gender identity,” demanded Franke.