Half of gays hide sexuality in workplace, survey finds

A significant proportion of gay people still hide their sexuality in the workplace because of the stigma attached to their sexual preference, a new survey has found.

While 79 per cent are open about their sexuality with their friends and 60 per cent have come out to their family, only half say they are "out" to everyone in their workplace.

The survey, the first of its kind to be undertaken in this State, was commissioned by leading Dublin-based gay magazine Gay Community News in a bid to attract advertisers.

The survey shines a light on a community previously ignored in statistical terms. It shows that the "pink euro" is flourishing, and depicts a vibrant community of sophisticated consumers who earn almost €13,000 each above the average wage and, as a community, take home €8.75 billion before tax each year. The survey also reveals that the vast majority of gay couples in Ireland would choose to get married to their same-sex partners should such legislation be introduced in the State.

Respondents were divided down the middle on whether they would prefer to enter into civil partnerships such as those introduced to Northern Ireland or full marriage as offered to heterosexual couples.

Half of those surveyed were in relationships lasting between two and 10 years, and 10 per cent of respondents were parents.

The average respondent was aged 25-44.

Editor of GCN Brian Finnegan said that while the advertising industry has targeted readers of gay publications across Europe and America, the industry had been "reluctant to bite" at home.

He added that the survey revealed a "two-tier world" in which, on the one hand, gay people are highly educated, professional, earning good money and leading fulfilled lives.

"But there is another world where this group are faced with inequality in society in terms of the law which leads to the situation where 50 per cent are not comfortable being out in the workplace. It is only when the law changes that they will begin to have the confidence to be out and feel comfortable in all parts of society."

The survey was carried out by respected international consultancy Out Now, a company specialising in gathering statistical data from gay communities across the world. Similar surveys have recently been carried out by the company in the UK, the Netherlands and Australia. Almost 2,000 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people responded to the survey. It is estimated that there are 195,000 gay people in Ireland.