Out employees in Metroplex are encouraged to place a picture of their significant other on their desk, meet up later to discuss reactions in workplace at Sue Ellen’s
Paul von Wupperfeld
As same-sex relationships continue to gain acceptance in the political arena, LGBT people have come to hope and expect acceptance in the workplace. And Out & Equal DFW is helping achieve that.
The group is planning its second “Frame Your Love” event Tuesday, May 13, where LGBT people across the Metroplex are encouraged to place a picture of their spouse, partner or boyfriend or girlfriend on their desks.
Paul von Wupperfeld, a founder of the DFW regional affiliate and the group’s market and communications officer, said the event is intended to help more people come out at work or come further out with co-workers. Since National Coming Out day doesn’t apply to many professionals who are already out, he said the event is a way for out people to take another step.
“We were thinking about what would be a workplace-appropriate way to allow people to express their relationship,” he said.
“Being able to put your loved one’s picture out in a public area really seems very central to the idea of an inclusive workplace. “
The first event was held in the fall of 2012 with about 50 people showing up to discus their experiences, both positive and negative. Von Wupperfeld said the negative experiences at that event were people who weren’t quite ready to put a picture on their desks yet. Others had great experiences.
“It was a very powerful thing,” he said about the first event. “It was a much more powerful thing than I think a lot of us expected.”
He expects more people to participate this year and to share their stories afterward.
“Coming out is not a one-time event,” Von Wupperfeld said. “It’s something that you do in stages, and being able to put your loved one’s picture out is an important step in that process.”
Frame Your Love takes place Tuesday, May 13. Participants will gather at Sue Ellen’s from 6-8 p.m. to discuss their workdays.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 9, 2014.