Coming out at work in the south

[SharkGirl98]

Hey y’all.

I’m planning on coming out as trans at my workplace soon. I only plan on coming out to my department for now, as the rest of the company is elderly cis straight religious men and I feel that they will react poorly.

 

Many of my coworkers have suspicions of me being queer, and have voiced them, so it won’t be coming out of nowhere.The company I work at has, as far as I’m aware, never had a trans employee and I’m sure it’ll be tough, but I’m sick and tired of the closet.

 

any advice? What issues or obstacles do y’all think I should expect? 
 

Thank y’all so much for your help!

- River

 

 

P.S.

Do y’all think that bringing a cake when I tell them would be a bad idea? We bring food for our department regularly so I thought maybe it’d be a good idea. Let me know what you think please?

[Charlize]

Best of luck dear.  I can't say a cake would help win over transphobic folks but patience and good will hopefully help.  One never knows how these things will work out.  I hope you are pleasantly surprised.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[Carolyn Marie]

I wish you luck, River.  Coming out at work can be a minefield.  It helps to come to management armed with information on State and local laws and regulations, and with company policy.  If your company has an HR department, it might be best to tell them first.  If your company has an employee handbook, see if it has any useful information.

 

Be open to questions, but don't let them insult you or shut you down.  There are a good many online guides with which to educate the uninformed.  Try the Human Rights Campaign or the NCTE (National Center for Transgender Equality).  The more your colleagues know, the better it will be for you.

 

Carolyn Marie

[Kaltia_Atlas]

I came out to my boss directly about a year and a half ago. Then we spoke with HR together. Turned out, my HR manager is gay, there are several LGBTQ members here and nobody really cares. Those that know and work directly with me ask some questions every once in a while, otherwise nobody cares. 

 

It scared me witless when I first thought about coming out. But my direct boss has kind of become a "father figure" in some ways. Hell, he watched me be disowned by half my family and helped me through it. He has watched me break down in tears and picked me back up, brushed me off and helped me move forward. Funny part is... He is only a few years older than me and deals with a lot of the home life I do. Not trans, but wife, kids, etc. Lol. Love that man like a father and I look up to him like noone else.

 

I wish you luck and good fortune! People wont always react the way you expect. Btw... The dark side always has cookies. ?

Sorry... Nerdlett moment. ?

 

Hugz ❤️

Kali

[Kaltia_Atlas]

By the way... I'm in the bible belt of Western NC... So I understand the fear and concern.