There is no question that society has progressed significantly since the Stonewall Riot, but there is still a great deal of stigma associated with being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBT) in many areas around the world. In particular, the workplace remains a challenging environment for many people who identify as such, including airline pilots. While it is clear that LGBT individuals can be just as qualified to fly an aircraft as anyone else, they often face discrimination and prejudice that makes them feel like outcasts within their own industry. This can lead to a sense of isolation and alienation, which in turn affects their performance in the cockpit.
The most common reason given for this phenomenon is that airlines fear losing customers if they publicly embrace LGBT employees.
This does not take into account the fact that many travelers are also members of the LGBT community themselves and would appreciate seeing someone who looks like them represented among flight crew. By denying employment opportunities to talented individuals solely because of their sexuality, companies risk missing out on top talent and potentially even violating anti-discrimination laws.
It is important to remember that aviation is already a highly regulated industry with strict safety standards. Pilots must undergo extensive training and certification before taking to the skies, so there is little chance that someone who identifies as LGBT would pose any greater danger than their straight counterparts. In fact, some studies have shown that openly LGBT pilots may actually be safer due to increased self-confidence and awareness of their surroundings.
It is up to each individual airline to decide whether or not they want to pursue diversity initiatives, but we cannot ignore the potential cost of excluding people based on sexual orientation. The next time you board a plane, consider asking yourself why the pilot looks just like everyone else - could he or she be just as capable and deserving of recognition?
What is lost when pilots of LGBT-affirming practices are never scaled due to perceived controversy?
LGBT-affirming practices are behaviors that support and promote lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people within an organization or society. When these practices are never scaled up, there may be several consequences such as decreased visibility for LGBT individuals, lack of representation, limited access to resources and opportunities, and exclusion from decision-making processes.