How to FUCKING PROTECT YOURSELVES RIGHT NOW

Hey there, I am an attorney that’s been hanging out here for almost two years now, and this sub has become a daily indispensable ritual for me. <br><br>I’ve been reading through these comments with a bleeding heart and I want to do my part to help. Seeing what’s happening in Texas is beyond the line, and if you’re in a similar situation and you want to hold on to your job, here’s what I think you should do:<br><br>**1. If you haven’t come out yet: DON’T.** <br> <br>Please listen. You don’t owe anybody anything when it comes to your sexuality or gender identity. I cannot describe how much it hurts my heart to see people losing their jobs and their livelihoods over this shit. They don’t deserve to know you, they’ve proven they don’t even see you as a human being.<br><br>**2. Review your employment contract and your school district’s employment policies** <br> <br>If you can take a high-quality photo of it with your phone, do so. It’s always good to have a copy of your employment contract, and it’s even better when it’s digital. Look for anything that can be used against you, and familiarize yourself with the procedures for termination of employment. If you haven’t signed anything and your school district’s policies are available online, that’s what you should be focusing on. This is to find out whether they have a history of firing teachers for being gay, what they consider a “firing offense”, and what is the process they need to follow to fire someone.<br><br>**3. If your school district has a history of firing gay teachers, consider establishing a thin gay line of defense** <br> <br>This is the part where I tell you that if you’re in the process of being fired for being gay, the best course of action is to thin the gay line of defense. This is a concept from the movie A Few Good Men (1992), and it means that you have to create a thin line of defense by only defending one point, and that point is “my gayness does not make me a pedophile”. In addition, you can argue that you never used your sexuality or gender identity to groom children, and that you never touched or abused a child (or minor, which is anyone under 18), unless you have, in which case you’re fucked and I don’t feel sorry for you. I’m not going to provide any further legal advice to people who have committed unforgivable crimes. If you’re being fired for being gay, this is your best course of action.<br><br>**4. If your school district doesn’t have a history of firing gay teachers, consider establishing a thin line of defense based on religious discrimination** <br> <br>This is a much stronger line of defense. It’s very easy to prove that Christianity is homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, and just plain discriminatory. This is your best chance at establishing a line of defense. Right now it’s especially a good idea, since Christianity is associated with the Right.<br><br>**5. Talk to your HR department** <br> <br>This is especially important because you need to know exactly what’s happening. Is the school district getting complaints from parents? Is it just the school board assholes? You need to know who to go after when you pursue your lawsuit. This is very important! If you are fired for being gay, this information is crucial. The more information you can gather, the better.<br><br>**6. If you are fired for being gay, don’t take it** <br> <br>Pursue your lawsuit to the highest courts, and don’t settle. If they have a history of firing gay teachers, it’s much easier to prove that they’re bigoted and that you’ve been discriminated against. If they don’t have a history of firing gay teachers, but you can prove that they’re discriminating against you for being gay (and for being a member of a protected class) you can easily establish a precedent and keep them from firing others. This is very important. Don’t take it. Don’t take this bullshit.<br><br>**7. Finally, talk to your students and colleagues** <br> <br>If you’ve done all of the above, talk to your students and colleagues. This is very important because they can become valuable allies and provide important testimony in your lawsuit. They can also support you emotionally. It’s much easier to bear when you’re not alone. <br><br>OK, this is all the advice I have for now. If you have any questions, I’d be more than happy to help.