(Wanda Kitty unsheaths her claws)
As a woman who loves women, this issue is awkward for me to address.
Until Katrina I was a Supervisor. (My former place of work no longer exists)
As a WOMAN, not just as a bisexual, I had to tread ever so lightly in my actions. As we climb the authority ladders we are open to more scrutiny and rush to judgment than men are prone to.
Guys, PLEASE don't protest "Oh no, that's not true anymore"
Believe me, IT IS STILL THE RULE.
This is the reason I NEVER saw co-workers away from work.
(Ok there was our intern, but that was only away from work, I had limited authority over him, it was purely physical, and it started just a couple weeks before he was due to leave. He was giving me a ride to work, arrived at my apartment early, and oh never mind!)
I dressed in a much more "proper" fashion, and generally always wore a bra. No plunging necklines, short skirts, tummy baring styles or sheer tops.
I NEVER flirted with male employees, (I wasn't out as bi at work, as the Sisters owned and operated the clinic) and never touched or even hugged female employees. This left me the reputation as being a little cold and distant, but so be it.
I created a huge, dense barrier between work and the rest of my life.
Having explained all that, now to address what has been posted here.
First:
A boorish, harrassing supervisor is a harrasing supervisor no matter what their sexual orientation. If they are warned off, (politely) and they press things, then going up the ladder to complain is the only thing to do.
Anyone can be guilty of abusing their authority, man or Woman.
I think Steph handled this well.
BUT!
I have some MAJOR issues with the Fire Chief story.
I think it is telling, even disturbing, that she supposedly showed favortism not just to lesbians, but to "those who socialized with them"
What I read between the lines is soooo disturbing.
Plain and simple, in that department, if you didn't like lesbians, refused to socialize with them, you didn't get preferential treatment.
Socialize with them as to get to know them as people, and LET THEM GET TO KNOW YOU!!!
NOWHERE does it say that these victims were acted against in some way, that they were harrased, i.e sex for favors, unwanted sexual attention or advances, just that they didn't get any preferential treatment.
Let's flip things a bit, and look at it like this.
A black supervisor shows preferential treatment to those who are black, OR to white, asian or hispanic employees who socialize with with blacks in his company. He shows favortism to those, white or black or other, who make an effort to get to know him, AND EACH OTHER,letting him know who they are, what kind of people they are, and that they are accepting of blacks as supervisors.
So he is demoted and looses his supervisory position.
Please go back and re-read the story, and then re-read everthing I wrote above before you have a fit and call me names.
WW