Sample ResumeNow that I’m out of a job, there will be times I feel compelled to address career topics as they arise in my own job hunt. The first topic that comes to mind is a delicate issue. My intent is to provoke discussion about how different people respond to a certain label and hopefully come to an understanding between straight and LGBT-identified people of how, where and when to use this word.

I’m curious: How do potential employers feel about the word “queer” appearing on a resume when used in connection with an organization where skills are attained?

For example, I’m quite proud of my duties and contributions to Queercents. Since coming on board, I’ve developed highly marketable skills in addition to my lengthy experience with research, analysis and reporting. Therefore, I list Queercents on my resume to position myself as a stronger candidate for a career in online media. However, I never expected that mentioning Queercents on my resume would make some people uncomfortable.

I’ve had a couple of experiences on the phone and one in person that gave me the impression that potential employers were uncomfortable saying the word “queer.” For instance, I’d be asked questions about my responsibilities for my, “uh… um, personal finance website,” or “this website you write for.”

The first time it happened, I thought it was a fluke, and also a bit strange because I’m applying for jobs in the San Francisco Bay Area, nicknamed the “Gay Area.” I assumed everyone around here is accustomed to the fact some people are self-identified as “queer.” But after three potential employers avoided saying the word, I got the hint. The problem was that I’m not sure what the hint is all about.

I can speculate and make all the assumptions that I want, but that’s not very productive. If any of our straight readers could suggest why some potential employers may feel uncomfortable with the word “queer,” please shed some light. It may be helpful for all of us.

Here’s my point of view about the word “queer,” although I can’t say that I speak for all queers. I believe Queercents belongs on my resume, and I will keep it there because this is where I’ve gained relevant experience for online media work. “Queer” is a part of my identity, as is being Latin American. If my ethnic identity is going to be asked about on employment applications (which is the case), then please also acknowledge that my resume and work experience indirectly indicates my sexual orientation. It is not my intention for anyone to be uncomfortable with the label that describes the setting in which I’ve acquired media skills.

I really would like to understand what must be communicated between potential employers and queers to make it easier to acknowledge work experience connected to one’s sexual orientation. From my perspective, I’m confident that skills acquired from my queer-related work experience are as equally transferable as my skills acquired from corporate settings. I’m not trying to transfer queer-only skills to another job. If the same (and often sexual orientation neutral) content I write for Queercents were printed by a mainstream financial publication instead, I suspect that the nature of my content would not be an issue for an employer. Or would it?

I’m not sure if one dynamic occurring is that an interviewer is afraid of offending a potential candidate by using the word “queer,” or if there are personal objections on behalf of the interviewer? To facilitate this discussion, it would be great to know the perspective from both sides of the issue. What are the experiences from the potential employer (straight or queer) interviewing a candidate, and what are the experiences of the candidate trying to advertise skills acquired from a queer-specific job? Your thoughts would greatly be appreciated.