Perceived Workplace Discrimination and Disclosure at Work Among Lesbian and Gay Employees: The Role of Prior Coming Out Experiences in Different Life Domains

Abstract

This French study aimed to explore the links between different dimensions of perceived workplace discrimination (i.e., perceived heterosexist events, workplace climate toward LGBT employees, organizational policies against discrimination) and disclosure of one's homosexuality at work among 234 lesbian and gay employees. Drawing on the theoretical model of an active and plural socialization, we postulated that prior experiences of coming out across different life domains (i.e., family, work, friends) moderated these links. Findings from the Web-based internet survey revealed that prior negative coming out experiences with friends moderated these links, but in a different way whether individuals were faced with personal discrimination (i.e., heterosexist events) or with a more general discrimination risk (i.e., workplace climate, organizational policies). Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed in the field of work and organizational psychology.