Press Release: An Intersectional Exploration of the Experiences of Lesbian and Gay Entrepreneurs

New research from DCU and Technology University Dublin charts LGBT+ entrepreneurs’ experiences of homophobia, and managing their identity in the workplace.

The research from Prof Maura McAdam (DCU), Dr Etain Kidney and Professor Thomas Cooney (TUD) examines the lived experiences of these entrepreneurs through in-depth interviews on how they navigate homophobia and heterosexism. The findings demonstrate that gay entrepreneurs may face heterosexist and homophobic discrimination from clients, suppliers and customers.

Who do we think of when we hear the term entrepreneur? The prevailing profile of the entrepreneur is a heroic heterosexual male, driven purely by economic gain. There is a gap in understanding and little visibility of the discrimination and prejudice experienced by gay entrepreneurs. This research project explored the ‘everyday prejudices’ as experienced from the perspective of fourteen lesbian and gay entrepreneurs, using an intersectional perspective (exploring how social markers, in this case sexual orientation, shape an individual’s experiences.)

The research team conducted in depth interviews with these entrepreneurs on how they navigate homophobia and heterosexism. The findings demonstrate that gay entrepreneurs may face heterosexist and homophobic discrimination from clients, suppliers and customers. These experiences included: harassment, violent abuse, verbal abuse, passive homophobia, and hypersexualisation. These experiences were described as ‘normal’ or examples of ‘everyday prejudice’, and in some cases came in the pursuit of their professional activities.

The participants demonstrated the ordinariness of heterosexist discrimination in their lives. This research found lesbian and gay entrepreneurs perceive prejudice as a commonplace occurrence. It was clear from the data that this perception of everyday prejudice stemmed from a pervasive experience of heterosexism and homophobia. A pattern also emerged relating to participants suggesting that they had been ‘lucky’ to avoid serious physical or verbal homophobia. These findings suggest that many of the lesbian and gay entrepreneurs felt that they must be ‘courageous’ or ‘brave’ to be open about their sexuality as it carries a distinct risk of being subject to discrimination.

It also emerged that due to the expectation of discrimination, lesbian and gay entrepreneurs may be reluctant to identify themselves as gay or lesbian in the workplace, and in some cases choose the path of entrepreneurship as a strategy for achieving an autonomous career trajectory and management of minority stress.

The research found how variations in LGBT+ entrepreneurs’ outness (whether they are openly gay or not) influenced the selection of when, who to and how to be queer in business. Outness intersects with how discrimination is experienced, particularly the experiences of those who are visibly or openly gay versus the experiences of those who can and choose to pass as straight in certain situations, or “transcend sexuality” altogether as a strategy. This latter strategy is only available to those who are not identifiably gay or who break from the masculine/feminine traits typical of their gender.

Ultimately, entrepreneurs from minority and disadvantaged communities not only encounter idiosyncratic challenges because they are not part of the mainstream population, but they also endure distinctive challenges that are exclusive to their own specific community.

Published: 26th June 2024