Times Of Swaziland: ‘COP’S COMING OUT HISTORIC’

‘COP’S COMING OUT HISTORIC’
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BY TINOTENDA CHIMUSORO AND BONISILE MAKHUBU on 07/07/2018 04:23:00


MBABANE – While the police service distanced itself from the LGBTI march, one
of their own took a bold step by openly declaring her sexual orientation.
*Marylyn, a police officer based at a police post outside Mbabane, said she is
happier coming out than living a double life.
Despite that she has come out, she requested that her identity be protected, not
because she was afraid but because of her work, where it still has not been
fully accepted.
Last week Saturday she publicly participated in the LGTBI parade that was staged
in Mbabane.
Many other participants went there as supporters and not to mean that they were
LGBTIs.
However, Marylyn granted an interview where she clarified on her sexuality
saying it is something within her since birth.
“Growing up, I never liked anything feminine, female clothes put me off”.
Homosexuality is a crime in 37 of the 52 nations that make up the Commonwealth
of Nations.
With Eswatini being a member of the Commonwealth, the public service departments
are forced to fall in line as they serve as instruments of the governing body.
Government institutions are said to have a number of people who cannot come out
of the closet concerning their sexual orientation due to fear of being
discriminated against.
Marylyn said being part of the march comes in as highly significant as she was
even featured on last week’s publication of the LGTBI parade where she gave
her insight concerning the occasion.
Her confidence during the interview can be said to be that of one who can
withstand stigmatisation as many public service employees are afraid to declare
their standing in society when it comes such issues.
The officer, when asked what advice she had for public servants who are part of
the LGBTI community but are afraid to come out, said they should continue to
live their lives and not be ashamed of who they are as God can be the only
judge.
hypocritical
“Some people who judge are hypocritical, because there are things that they do
behind closed doors that we do not know.”
Asked if she despised those who are against LGBTI, Marylyn said she does not
blame or hate them due to different values and socialisations that people have.
Chief Police Information and Communication Officer Superintendent Khulani Mamba
said the police service was already on Marylyn’s case.
“I cannot say much about this because you called me at a time when we had
already placed the matter at table. Deliberations are going on so I can only
discuss it afterwards.”
She went on to state that they had seen her pictures and interview in last
weekend’s publications and clarified that she was participating in her own
accord.
He said the deliberations on this are meant to determine if as police officers,
they could participate in this.
Mamba did, however, acknowledge that it was historic for the institution to have
an officer coming out openly about such.
“The Pride march was also the first of its kind so we were really taken
aback.”
Research conducted by the Human Rights Commission (HRC) stipulates that many
LGBTI workers do not report negative comments or discomfort at work because they
do not think anything will be done.
About 45 per cent of LGBTI workers say enforcement of their employer’s
non-discrimination policy is dependent on their supervisor’s own feelings
about LGBTI people and 13 per cent say they worry they will be fired from work
for coming out as LGBTI.
Jokes
Some 53 per cent of LGBTI workers report hearing jokes about lesbian or gay
people in the workplace, according to the HRC study.
“Other closeted LGBTI workers report similar struggles, the study showed.
Twenty-five per cent feel distracted from work, 17 per cent say they feel
exhausted from hiding their sexual orientation, and 31 per cent feel depressed
at work”.
Research entails that LGBTI employees avoid making personal and professional
connections at work because they fear coming out. It further stated that
workplace discrimination is especially prevalent for transgender employees.
It added that nearly every transgender person surveyed as part of a 2009 report
from the National Centre for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force said they experienced discrimination at work.
“Some 80 per cent of non-LGBTI people say LGBTI people should not have to hide
who they are at work, but in practice, a number of double standards emerge”,
the HRC report found.
Some 59 per cent of non-LGBTI workers say it’s unprofessional to talk about
sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace and 36 per cent say they
feel uncomfortable talking about dating with an LGBTI colleague.”