Because forklift operators operate where there are humans around and a single fuckup can mean a bloody and violent death, and with it huge penalties for procedures not being followed.
It is understandable to not want to essentially put your entire company at risk to roboticise a few jobs.
It is about being able to be openly gay/bi. In many cultures, being open and proud about being LGBT is something many LGBT people can only dream of.
To me, this reads like the end of a character arc, where the MC has had to repress their LGBT identity for years before walking the path towards finally embracing it. That last panel would be a sweet spot to give the reader a chance to think about how far the character has come.