So I get to work today and notice that a women I work with, Pam, isn't there. Well I didn't think that was very odd because the last time I worked (on Tuesday, Wednesday was my day off) she was sick. So my boss is there so I greet him and say "So Pam's still sick huh?" and he looks flustered for a second and then responds: "No, I had to let her go. She kept giving Patrick a hard time about being gay.", then he added "but that wasn't the only reason anyway."

So a little background. Patrick is my gay coworker, the one who's recently been questioning his sexuality (because lately he's found himself attracted to girls). Patrick was pretty much the first person my boss hired when he started his buisness. I'm next as far as having been there the longest, and Pam started a few weeks after me. Well Patrick and I both stayed at the original location in the beginning, whereas Pam's hiring coincided with the opening of the newer location; so she'd always worked there. Well about a year and a half or so ago Patrick transferred to that location, and he and Pam's arguments and disagreements were well-known. Pam is not tolerant of homosexuality, nor is she an especially tactful, mannerly person.

Anyway I'd always gotten along fine with her for the most part. I mean I didn't approve of her attitude, nor was she really one of my favourite people, and I always sympathized with Patrick, but she did have a good side. I mean I really think she was just ignorant and conservative etc. But she could be quite nice, and she was almost always (until the last week or so) very nice to me (as far as she knew I was straight,,,and I actually often got the impression she was flirting with me). So I mostly just minded my own buisness. She and Patrick even developed an odd sort of working relationship. They argued all the time, and she really did say dreadful things to him at time, but he's a really sweet guy and nice to everyone. And like I said she could be quite nice too. So they were often very pleasent toward each other, she'd occasionally give him a ride home, he'd bring her some candy or other treat that she liked, and in a strange sort of way they almost seemed like friends. Of course that was only about a quarter of the time, the rest of the time she couldn't handle the fact that he was gay and would get quite rude, and he'd purposely push her buttons, and on bad days I spent the whole time listening to them complain about each other. Of course I personally sided with Patrick most of the time, and always made it clear that I didn't have a problem his sexuality, but for the most part I just stayed out of it.

So anyway I transferred there at the beginning of the semester because my school schedule is really crazy this time and I can barely work enough hours, and I'm only available at weird times. I dare say if I hadn't been there so long, and wasn't one of his favourites, my boss wouldn't have been as helpful and flexible with my schedule. So anyway I wasn't too thrilled with working there because even though I mostly stayed out of it, I wasn't too comfortable around the homophobia. Also, while I still had no intention of coming out at work, I was no longer really "in" either. Well about a week or so ago Patrick commented how cute this guy that had just come in was (Patrick knows I'm attracted to guys), so naturally I went and checked him out Well it seems Pam noticed, and while I'm not entirely sure it wasn't just me being paranoid, it didn't seem like she was being quite as nice to me anymore. So I was getting a little tense around her as well.

So Tuesday she was sick, but apparently Wednesday she was back and on a "rampage". On her bad days she's a little Bit*&Y to everyone. Well it looks like my boss had had enough, he'd always been fond of both she and Patrick, but clearly was on Patrick's side. However, Patrick had always made it a point NOT to complain, and to keep it personal between them. So I don't know if she finally crossed a line or what, but apparently it was enough. And according to a seperate co-worker quite an ugly confrontation went down with Pam and Patrick and our boss (and to a lesser extent the other co-worker as well; it seems Pam was trying to bring everyone into it). So anyway naturally the rumour mill was running in over-drive. And while I'm not sure I'd put too much faith in it, I heard that Pam actually had a gay son she'd disowned, and when anyone asked her, she'd say she didn't have any kids. Which of course totally sucks if it's true . I probably would have had alot more time even putting up with her before if I'd heard that

Another rumour which was once again voiced is that our boss' daughter is a lesbian and that's why he tends to be so supportive of GLBT's. In fact I'd say we've definitely had more than the normal percentage work at the store. We've had 2 gay guys for sure (and at least 2 others that people wondered about), 3 lesbians (2 of which were a couple at the time ), at least 2 bisexuals, and one transgendered. In fact a couple of years ago I was working with one of my favourite co-workers, Jeff. And we were having this conversation:

Me: you know that girl that always comes in, Nicki?

Jeff: Yeah

Me: she tells me she just applied to work here?

Jeff: Oh really, she's very nice, kinda cute too.

Me: Yeah she is, but you know I think she's a lesbian

Jeff: OH,... well that'll probably help her chances of getting hired!

She did get offered the job too by the way, but ended up taking something else. Anyway I'm really not sure about the rumour about our boss' daughter. I'm somewhat inclinded to believe it though, I've met her a few times and it seems possible, also a couple of the friends she was with when I met her were clearly gay. So it's definitely a possibility, but then our boss really is a nice guy and whatever his flaws, prejudice doesn't appear to be one of them.

Anyway it's ashame that we spent most of the day gossiping, but I guess it was bound to happen (...and it was fun, lol). On the bright side, as selfish as it sounds, it's one less thing for me to worry about. I still don't plan on "coming out" at work, I mean there's really no point I'm leaving in less than three months and I wouldn't even start dating anyone before I go anyway. So I just don't think it's particularly relevant, especially to some of them that I'm not even as close with. But at least there's no one left who'd I'd expect a bad reaction from. LOL and I can check out whomever I'd like now without worrying about it.

Anyway take care all and have an awesome day!