Opinion: Take pride, not just in your work but in who you are

At 15, the author was Mr Sowerberry, the undertaker, in the school production of Oliver!. In rehearsals, the more camp he became, the more laughs and attention he got. That laughter, those smiles. He knew that he was gay and was petrified of being found out, but this all told him that if he minced,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Campaign 2015-09, p.19-19
Main Author: Knox, Scott
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Advertising agencies
Advertising executives
Company business management
Management
Services
Sexual orientation
Workplace diversity
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Summary:At 15, the author was Mr Sowerberry, the undertaker, in the school production of Oliver!. In rehearsals, the more camp he became, the more laughs and attention he got. That laughter, those smiles. He knew that he was gay and was petrified of being found out, but this all told him that if he minced, glided and made people laugh, he was OK, he was accepted, he was safe. He kept this up, even fine-tuned it, when in the company of a group of 'blokes' at a work event or leaving do, or later on in his career in the boardroom. Back then, he mistakenly saw it as further evidence of acceptance and inclusion but, in hindsight, he sees that it was patronising and dismissive. He believes that, had society been more celebrating of difference, he would not have become a pantomime dame.
ISSN:0008-2309