Gay and proud(ish)
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Gay and proud(ish)
Bit of a weird question... I'm currently in the job market and applying to airlines. I am gay, not overtly, and it certainly doesn't worry me. How is it viewed on the flight deck?
I know with plenty of old military pilots kicking about there might be less open-mindedness than in other industries.
Any thoughts / experiences appreciated. I wasn't planning on screaming out on day one (if ever) but was just interested to see if aviation has made it into the 21st century!
Thanks in advance!
I know with plenty of old military pilots kicking about there might be less open-mindedness than in other industries.
Any thoughts / experiences appreciated. I wasn't planning on screaming out on day one (if ever) but was just interested to see if aviation has made it into the 21st century!
Thanks in advance!
PPRuNe Handmaiden
If you don't mention it then it shouldn't be a problem.
Good luck.
Good luck.
So you immediately assume they might be more prudish/prejudiced than other individuals? Good grief!
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the airline industry is very open minded and most of the male cabin crew are gay. I reckon gay people are usually better in the customer service field and our industry is just about giving the best service to people!
I think you should be proud of yourself and very confident you will succeed!
tmr
I think you should be proud of yourself and very confident you will succeed!
tmr
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I'm heterosexual, with all the apparent gay stewards in the industry would I expect prejudice toward me?
Works both ways I guess, would only be a problem if you made it one, However, as in any industry, intolerance might be found with a couple of people but not the majority.
YYZ
Works both ways I guess, would only be a problem if you made it one, However, as in any industry, intolerance might be found with a couple of people but not the majority.
YYZ
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It won't affect your chances at all. As mentioned above its standard throughout the industry now, everyone accepts it perfectly well!!
However, don't go into an interview doing the screaming camp thing!! There are too many gay men who just love to put the statement out there. It may help you pull, but it wont win you a job!!
However, don't go into an interview doing the screaming camp thing!! There are too many gay men who just love to put the statement out there. It may help you pull, but it wont win you a job!!
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The question wasn't about whether being gay affects your ability as a pilot, just how it might affect the attitudes of those working with you on the flight deck. Being a gay pilot really doesn't worry me - I will fly to the best of my ability either way, but just interested to know if the majority think there might still be some prejudice in the industy.
I know several gay pilots but was interested to note that none have come out at work. Just made me think...
I know several gay pilots but was interested to note that none have come out at work. Just made me think...
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It not neccessarily that they don't 'come out', its usaully as I mentioned above. They don't broadcast it like half of the cabin crew do.
You will get treated exactly the same on every flight deck, as long as you don't give it the old.....hi honey!!!.........to the guy on your left!
You will get treated exactly the same on every flight deck, as long as you don't give it the old.....hi honey!!!.........to the guy on your left!
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I would rather fly with a capable, likeable, well humoured bloke, who just happens to be gay, then some stuck up old cronie "been there seen it all you know nothing" type that you still hear about.
Ultimately, your sexuality is no business but your own. My advice would be it's totally up to you if you choose to make it anybody elses. But you should also understand I am still looking for my first job so I can't speak with anything else other then my opinion.
Good luck to you mate. If we were all the same it would be a boring world.
Ultimately, your sexuality is no business but your own. My advice would be it's totally up to you if you choose to make it anybody elses. But you should also understand I am still looking for my first job so I can't speak with anything else other then my opinion.
Good luck to you mate. If we were all the same it would be a boring world.
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Thanks for the post Timzsta (and everyone else!). I'm not entirely sure what i was expecting as a response from the debate, but I hope my colleagues have similar opinions to you!
Any other experiences very welcome!
Any other experiences very welcome!
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I would say exactly the same thing. I previously worked as Cabin Crew with gay men and the guys at the front treated them exactly the same as me, so i would say it wouldnt be a problem as long as your not a total queen !! 
Its really not an issue. Some time ago I was the only straight member of the all male crew one day. Aviation still retains a little of the ethos of merit. Perhaps more so than in other industries where measurement of performace and thorough grading of a persons skills are politicaly incorrect.
I think it highly unlikely that your sexuality will be a factor in any selection or career progression.
Good luck,
WWW
I think it highly unlikely that your sexuality will be a factor in any selection or career progression.
Good luck,
WWW
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I did all of my flying training in South Africa with a group of British " straight " lads and to be honest was a little wary of whether or not to tell people that I was gay. After a few months I made the decsion to tell people and was pleasantly surprised by the response. I did not experience any homophobia from anyone and it made me feel much more comfortable that I was no longer hiding such a huge part of my identity.
To be honest nobody was particularly bothered.
To be honest nobody was particularly bothered.
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It's an entirely personal choice for you to make alone Schooler.
For my euro's worth, I can say that I'm 25 and have been exposed to various reactions from skippers concerning my sexuality since I first apeared in the right hand seat 6 years ago.
Firstly, you'd be very surprised to learn just how many pilots out there are gay. I'm openly out at work and always have been. Responses from fellow Captains have ranged from (the exceptionally rare) silent treatment, to some guys opening up a whole new discussion topic to keep you both awake on those long night time asia crossings! I even had one Capt ask me directly if I was gay just after TOC ex Heathrow (still 9 hours or so of flying ahead of us), only to then pull out a stack of photo's of him and his partner (male) on their recent hols!
You'll find that even some of the hard line ex military guys (sweeping generalisation I know chaps), numb their edges after a litttle exposure to the real world.
Ultimately, be yourself, do your job to your absolute best, and you'll be very unlucky to come across anything but respect from your work mates.
Anything else, feel free to private message me.
LC.
For my euro's worth, I can say that I'm 25 and have been exposed to various reactions from skippers concerning my sexuality since I first apeared in the right hand seat 6 years ago.
Firstly, you'd be very surprised to learn just how many pilots out there are gay. I'm openly out at work and always have been. Responses from fellow Captains have ranged from (the exceptionally rare) silent treatment, to some guys opening up a whole new discussion topic to keep you both awake on those long night time asia crossings! I even had one Capt ask me directly if I was gay just after TOC ex Heathrow (still 9 hours or so of flying ahead of us), only to then pull out a stack of photo's of him and his partner (male) on their recent hols!
You'll find that even some of the hard line ex military guys (sweeping generalisation I know chaps), numb their edges after a litttle exposure to the real world.
Ultimately, be yourself, do your job to your absolute best, and you'll be very unlucky to come across anything but respect from your work mates.
Anything else, feel free to private message me.
LC.
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I donot understand why someone should
bring their sexual preferences onto a flight deck, is it not personal buisiness?. Is there a need to go about telling everyone your gay, who needs to know and who wants to know anyway. I guess if you say you are 'proud' then an in your face gay would get on peoples nerves and you can then expect a negative reaction. Its down to personality in the end.
bring their sexual preferences onto a flight deck, is it not personal buisiness?. Is there a need to go about telling everyone your gay, who needs to know and who wants to know anyway. I guess if you say you are 'proud' then an in your face gay would get on peoples nerves and you can then expect a negative reaction. Its down to personality in the end.
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" I donot understand why someone should
bring their sexual preferences onto a flight deck, is it not personal buisiness"
I don`t think that its a case of anyone wanting to be in your face, but is it not a normal thing when you are in work to chat about your partner, wife, kids etc? Straight people can do this without having to worry about what type of reaction they will receive.
Its an important part of you and if you have to "edit out" parts of your life in conversations with your colleagues then that it is pretty sad - its certainly not in your face.
bring their sexual preferences onto a flight deck, is it not personal buisiness"
I don`t think that its a case of anyone wanting to be in your face, but is it not a normal thing when you are in work to chat about your partner, wife, kids etc? Straight people can do this without having to worry about what type of reaction they will receive.
Its an important part of you and if you have to "edit out" parts of your life in conversations with your colleagues then that it is pretty sad - its certainly not in your face.
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Well, I'm a long-range Captain and I'm normal (I use that word on purpose) Working with homosexuals is a nuisance in the civil aviation world, but how can it be avoided ? there are simply too many of them.
A couple of F/Os have this infirmity in my company. Without even discussing the subject with them, I acknowledge we don't go very well personnally, and we limit out our talking to SOPs and standard calls. Probably like dogs : I never kick them, but they immediately feel that I don't like them.
By the way, I also don't like smokers and muslims - but I can fly with them without crashing the aircraft, and I can also be quite courteous and talkative, with a good CRM attitude.
You can hate people with no need to be rude with them - ask some recent terrorists....
To make things easiers for the expected opposition, I will add that I used to be a fighter pilot for 24 years, with combat and command experience .... also I'm not a native english speaker, that might be a contributing factor ?
A couple of F/Os have this infirmity in my company. Without even discussing the subject with them, I acknowledge we don't go very well personnally, and we limit out our talking to SOPs and standard calls. Probably like dogs : I never kick them, but they immediately feel that I don't like them.
By the way, I also don't like smokers and muslims - but I can fly with them without crashing the aircraft, and I can also be quite courteous and talkative, with a good CRM attitude.
You can hate people with no need to be rude with them - ask some recent terrorists....
To make things easiers for the expected opposition, I will add that I used to be a fighter pilot for 24 years, with combat and command experience .... also I'm not a native english speaker, that might be a contributing factor ?
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Well it started off fairly promisingly...
It's a pity that there are some bigots out there, but then that was to be expected.
I guess on balance the thread has made for good reading. I've had several PMs from pilots in various jobs and at various stages of their careers - some gay, some not. I think that they don't feel it has been an issue for the most part.
Keep the comments coming!
It's a pity that there are some bigots out there, but then that was to be expected.
I guess on balance the thread has made for good reading. I've had several PMs from pilots in various jobs and at various stages of their careers - some gay, some not. I think that they don't feel it has been an issue for the most part.
Keep the comments coming!
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RECCEGUY YOU'RE DISGUSTING, RACIST, AND STUPID.
I just hope you'll terminate your career soon as your behaviour and way of thinking is an hazard to aviation.
I'm really ashamed that somebody else may read your post and think that that is an average pilot thought.....BECAUSE IT'S NOT!
I just hope you'll terminate your career soon as your behaviour and way of thinking is an hazard to aviation.
I'm really ashamed that somebody else may read your post and think that that is an average pilot thought.....BECAUSE IT'S NOT!