One recent topic in Finland has been Johanna Korhonen, who was appointed the editor of the newspaper Lapin Kansa. She was later fired before she had time to start in her new position, allegedly because her domestic partnership with another woman. A statement that an out lesbian can not work as editor of Lapin Kansa by the retiring editor seems to support her claim of discrimination. The case is still her word against the publisher Alma Media, who claim loss of trust.
Right now the outrage over ms Korhonen’s treatment makes us miss a positive side of the affair: that there is an outrage. The overwhelming reaction seems to be, that ms. Korhonen was treated unfairly if she really was fired because of her sexual orientation. And not just liberal press but the staff and subscribers of Lapin Kansa.
This case has created a lively discussion over the existence of a glass ceiling on the career of openly gay people. The case with a glass ceiling is that it is invisible. You get passed over for a promotion or they just don’t hire you. The open discussion that has ensued shows to me, that the climate is changing for greater equality in the workplace. I’m very hopeful that time when we need to hide our identity in our working life is really behind us.