Like most of you, I have to work. I don't mind it, but I always worry about the dreaded bigot, or person I might offend because of my family dynamic. Of course, I am proud of my family and always want to talk about them, so I just do it. However, I do take into consideration sometimes the person I am talking to. I never want to come on too strong or make someone else uncomfortable, I'm just respectful of others. I believe that not everyone has to like my lifestyle or me, and I don't have to like others, but we will at least be respectful.

That being said, dealing with at-work harassment is a very real thing. I had this old lady at work who just did not like me, to the point of trying to bully and harass me. It was pretty serious. I wasn't scare of her, but she highly annoyed me and she was very offensive. So I called a meeting with our manager at the time so she could mediate for us and let me say what I needed to say and she could do the same. After things seems to settle...for a while. Then it started again. She was rude, hateful and inconsiderate.

Not only was this lady homophobic but she was openly racist. She still had her job because the people who complained on her felt bad because she was so old. My thought was just because she is old as hell doesn't give her the right to be a crappy person. But like all the others, when I went to HR I told them I just wanted her to stop, and I didn't want her to lose her job. I knew and felt she was wrong, but didn't want to mess with her lively-hood like she had been doing to other people.

That stopped her for a while, and I moved departments (advancement reasons not because of her) and now we are amicable. Which is what I wanted anyway. I was fine if she didn't like me, but being friendly is much easier than holding a grudge.

If you do take that step to resolve an issue with your HR department and the problem still occurs. Or if you feel that the issue gets worse or no one at your business is willing to help there are options. The ICRC or Indiana Civil Rights Commission can also help and/or advise you on what to do next. They can assist with sexual harassment, or any other harassment due to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, agism, ETC. Don't deal with it if you don't want to. I made the choice to deal with my work situation in a different way than most, but that may not be the road that someone else needs to take.

Reach out to the ICRC at 317-232-2600 or toll free (800)-628-2909. You can also visit their website www.in.gove/icrc or email icrc@crc.in.gov.