The Double-Edged Sword of “Being Out” at Work: Its Impact on Perceived Professionalism, Morality, and Cooperation Intentions

his research examines the interpersonal consequences of sexual identity disclosure, focusing on social perceptions (professionalism, competence, sociability, and morality) and cooperation intentions (informal and formal).  Across two studies, participants evaluated a fictitious gay employee who either disclosed or concealed his sexual orientation at work. In Study 1, 88 Dutch participants, assessed the employee's social attributes. Results showed that disclosing sexual orientation led to lower perceptions of professionalism compared to concealing it. Moreover, participants with stronger heteronormative beliefs rated the employee as less professional overall. Study 2, comprising a politically diverse sample of 415 UK participants, replicated and expanded the findings from Study 1. It revealed that the identity disclosure (vs. concealment) negatively impacted participants’ willingness to formally cooperate with the employee (e.g., collaborating on a work task), which was associated with reduced perceived professionalism. This effect was particularly pronounced among more heteronormative individuals. Conversely, disclosure enhanced informal cooperation intentions (e.g., socializing during lunch), alongside increasing perceived sociability and morality. These findings underscore the double-edged nature of sexual identity disclosure, revealing the complex challenges faced by individuals with minoritized sexual identities.