Article: It will be easier to help co-workers understand gay and lesbian issues if you get to know them first and they view you as a colleague and friend. Give yourself some time to get to know co-workers before bringing up issues in conversation. Co-workers will be less receptive to learning about gay and lesbian issues if they don't know or trust you. It's important to conduct yourself professionally and responsibly when educating co-workers about gay and lesbian issues. It's admirable to be an advocate for the gay community, but letting it distract you from your duties could get you in trouble. Remember that not everyone will want your insights into the issues faced by gay and lesbian people. This could be because they don't agree with it or just because they don't feel the workplace is the right place to discuss it. Respect the wishes of individuals that don't want to discuss gay and lesbian issues at work. Bring up topics related to the gay and lesbian community casually to begin the discussion. Relate them to something already being discussed. Co-workers will likely be more receptive to discussing issues if you reference current news items or events that are related than if you just bring it up suddenly. Bringing in an expert on diversity can be very helpful for any company and its employees. Diversity training gives workers the tools they need to be sensitive to the differences among their fellow employees, as well as the differences among the people they come into contact with as a part of their job. Offer co-workers resources for further information if they want to know more than time in the workplace permits. Suggest articles or websites that will further educate them and help them understand the process of coming out, the meaning of pride activities, and current issues in the gay and lesbian community. If you are gay or lesbian, you can educate co-workers by just being your normal self while out. Be honest about your sexuality and try to represent the gay or lesbian community in the best way possible. Remember that co-workers that know you're gay may view you as a representative or advocate of the gay lifestyle. If you are interested in educating them, be kind and willing to teach them about your life and the struggles you face due to being a gay or lesbian person in a homophobic society.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Get to know your coworkers. Maintain professionalism. Respect boundaries. Start a dialogue. Have professional diversity training. Recommend resources. Be out at work.
Article: If you've never had a tattoo, the best way to mentally prepare yourself is to get rid of the mystery surrounding it. Ideally, you want to walk into your tattoo appointment without too much anxiety the more relaxed you are, the easier your experience will be. Try talking to people who have many tattoos or the staff at your local tattoo parlor about their experiences getting tattoos. Most will be happy to talk. Everyone's pain tolerance is different. While tattoos are uncomfortable for most people, they aren't anywhere near things like childbirth and kidney stones. Most people you talk to should confirm this. A good amount of the pain from your tattoo is affected by the location on your body where you get it. If you're looking to minimize your pain, you may want to move it to one of the less-painful areas. While everyone's body is different, in general: Areas with lots of muscle (arms, legs, upper pectorals) and areas with lots of fatty padding (glutes, hips, etc.) tend to hurt the least. Sensitive areas (breasts, underarms, face, groin) and "hard" areas close to bones (scalp, face, collarbone, ribs, hands, feet) tend to hurt 'the most. All tattoos are not created equally. The pain level of your tattoo experience can also be affected by what, exactly, you're getting put onto your body. While some exceptions exist, in general: The smaller and simpler a tattoo is, the less painful it will be. Large, detailed designs hurt much more. Black and gray tattoos are less painful (and take less time) than multi-color tattoos. Areas of solid color hurt the most because they require the artist to go over their work several times. You don't have to endure your tattoo experience alone. If you can, try taking a friend or family member whose company you enjoy. Having someone who cares for you makes the experience much easier you'll have someone to talk to about your jitters beforehand and someone to give words of encouragement when you run into pain. If you aren't too shy, try making a social event out of your tattoo appointment. Many tattoo parlors allow small groups to hang out in the lobby or even in the room where the tattoo is being done if they aren't unruly. Having a group of people to encourage you even cheer for you can make getting a tattoo a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A modern tattoo machine is essentially a small set of needles that go in and out of the skin very quickly, leaving a little ink each time. This basically has the effect of making lots of tiny cuts in the area where the tattoo is. Almost everyone who gets a tattoo bleeds a little bit from this. If any of this process makes you feel faint or nauseous, you should plan not to watch. Don't be afraid to explain your situation to your tattoo artist. A good one will be more than happy to help you get through your tattoo with minimal discomfort.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Talk to an expert about your tattoo to ease your mind. Learn where tattoos hurt the most. Learn which tattoos hurt the most. Arrange for someone to come with you. Know that there will be needles and a small amount of blood.