Ephemeral promises of happiness: Coming out in the Australian accounting profession into the late 2010s

Abstract

This interview-based study explores how shifting promises of happiness impact on LGBTIQ+ individuals within the workplace. Our study situates within the “Big 4” Australian professional service firms at a time of significant political change, centered around the legislating of marriage equality in 2017. Together with statements of support issued by each of these firms, these moves offered an increasing sense that secure promises of happiness were now offered to “out” LGBTIQ+ staff. A shifting of hetero-cis normativities was suggested, offering some sense of greater safety, visibility, connection, and acceptance within these workplaces. However, these promises of happiness remained precarious and did little for issues that mattered most (including promotion), particularly individuals of intersectionality, including ethnically diverse and female individuals.