I am a lesbian, I am 36 years old and I still have trouble saying it, by Blandine PARCHALE – Liberation

So far, I have never dared, in my respective jobs, affirm my sexual orientation. At best, I was getting ready to be blurred or to use turns of neutral sentences. Worse, I have often claimed to have a boyfriend, and then opened up the long way to give everything to the masculine and pay attention to each personal thing I could tell. It seemed so much simpler, more expected and, at the same time, so complex on a daily basis. Even when I had to mention my hierarchy my PMA career to justify my absences, I had to remain evasive and then, of course, I was asked for news from my husband or my boyfriend.

Initially, the lie is above all a protection. When we start to occupy a position, we meet new and new colleagues, another hierarchy, we do not know their degree of opening, their position in the face of homosexuality. To say it is to take a risk. Then, once installed, it becomes very difficult to get rid of this lie. Coming out only becomes more complicated and less natural. It was only after leaving my post that I often managed to tell the colleagues with whom I had bonds of friendship.

You will say to me: « Why want to say it, after all, it’s personal, and colleagues don’t need to be aware. » It is true, but the setback of this position is to be silent, to let others tell their stories during the coffee breaks, re