Analysis
Stepping out – the City's gay lawyers on their experiences of coming out
"I came out as a trainee in a tough environment – in the 1980s during the AIDS and HIV crises," reflects Field Fisher Waterhouse managing partner Michael Chissick. "It was a challenge when it came to telling clients as I was concerned some clients and partners would be prejudiced." Three decades on, he still represents a relatively rare breed of openly gay senior lawyers, with many still reticent to be open about their sexual orientation. Although there are increasing numbers of gay lawyers and barristers who are role models for those coming up through the ranks, it seems a large majority still feel that the legal profession lags others in terms of being accepting of people's sexual orientation.
With limited numbers of openly gay people practising law, Pui-Guan Man speaks to a band of senior lawyers about their experiences of coming out and the importance of establishing gay role models
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