I was a junior developer at a tech company, and like many people in the industry, I was a huge fan of the Harry Potter series. So when I heard that a new game set in the Wizarding World was coming out, I couldn't resist preordering it.
I didn't think much of it at the time, but a few days later, my manager called me into her office. She told me that the company had recently implemented a strict no-transphobia policy, and that my preorder of Hogwarts Legacy was in violation of that policy. I was shocked and confused. I explained that I had preordered the game as a fan of the series, and that it's purchase didn't say a thing about my personal values, but my manager didn't seem to believe me.
She told me that my actions had been reported to HR (I have a few coworkers in Steam), and that they had decided to terminate my employment. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I had been with the company for over a year and had never had any issues. I tried to argue, but it was clear that the decision had already been made.
Feeling humiliated and hurt, I packed up my things and left the office. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had been unjustly fired, especially because it seemed that my managers did not believe my explanation.
I was devastated, not just because I had lost my job, but because it seemed that my passion for the Wizarding World had led to my downfall. I felt like I couldn't even enjoy the things I loved without it affecting my career.
I couldn't help but wonder if this would be a hurdle in my future job search, and if other companies would judge me for my love of a fantasy world.