Fear

[Heather Shay]

What is OR hopefully was your greatest fear in regard to either transitioning or supporting someone who was?

[stveee]

The biggest fear RN as I am just starting out, is not being able to support myself....either my current job not outright firing me but making it intolerable when I  identify as female.

And then not being able to find work and living in my almost-new Subaru that I just took out a loan on. And I happen to like my car.

Transgender people disproportionally live in poverty, but as to the reasons I can assume like myself there may be issues of mental health or substance abuse, etc. or just plain being ostracised socially and having lack of resources and support and live on the fringe, invisible.

I lived quite a number of years on disability and had times of homelessness, not on the streets but in shelters and crisis centers, and I learned how to scrabble a bit and invisibility does not suit me very well TBH.

I hope for the best and plan for the worst.

I really feel the darkest days are behind me, as now I know who and what I am and can at least present my authentic self.

After six years at the same position, I think I have proved my reliability at this point, it's not the most sexy job, in fact, not many people can hack it for a 12 hour shift so from a business standpoint it would be disappointing to see it mess up because of discrimination or prejudice. The company I am contracted to is a blue chip and I would assume have to be progressive on their policies. 

It will be interesting to be the first transperson at the facility and see how it all plays out.

Hopefully it shouldn't play out anything since I am like to bottom person on the totem in a dead end job anyway. I don't plan on coming out or announcing, but eventually when the obvious changes start happening, I am sure I'll have to set a few rumors straight here and there to the 2 or 3 people who actually care.

They will probably expect me to still be using the men's room until I actually have the bottom surgery..."actually a female"..which I am not even sure I may do. 

 

 

[Heather Shay]

@stveee thank you for sharing your fears. If you don't think you'll be accepted - the best time to look for a job is when you have one. But you may be surprised at the acceptance you don't think you'll receive. Especially after showing how reliable you are.