Suggestions For Coming Out At Work

[Guest SonadoraXVX]

Well, I work for a local gov't agency in California, and work alot with the public. California has Assembly Bill 887 and the local gov't has their ordinances for anti discrimination, protecting gender identity. One of the things I forsee, is I kind of expect to be taken out of the public sector interaction and be put into a more administrative position. Figure the public does not like to interact with somebody who presents androynous, and some of the public I interact can be very religious, even though there is protection under state law/gov't ordinances. I expect to be taken out of public interaction(ie.its ok with me)due to the friction that I can encounter with more conservative types of people who do not accept tg people. If your agency has positions where they can transfer you to positions with less public interactions, and if that agency feels you will encounter friction or even danger with the public, see if there are positions which are non public interacting. For my position there are positions where there are non public interacting, and I may end up there.

Lucia,

P.S. Just had to mention the cold hard facts about non acceptance of transgender people in today's society. I heard somebody say, first it was the blacks in acceptance, then the disabled, then the gays, and lastly will be the transgender people.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I kind of see it this way.

[Carolyn Marie]

If your agency has positions where they can transfer you to positions with less public interactions, and if that agency feels you will encounter friction or even danger with the public, see if there are positions which are non public interacting.

Lucia, while neither I nor anyone else can predict what will happen with any situation, my own experience tells me that you may be underestimating the public. I also work for a California local government entity, and my position is very public. I give seminars to business owners (a traditionally conservative group), talk to non-profit agency heads, and have addressed major business organizations, such as the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce.

When I talk to these folks, I don't wear a sandwhich board that says "I'm Trans," nor do I have a big T on my forehead. But many of those people I talk with knew me pre-transition, and it wouldn't be terribly hard to figure out from my body shape, voice, or mannerisms, that I am TG.

You know what the reaction has been to me, in the 20 months since transitioning? Nothing, nada, zilch. I am accepted as who I am without nary a raised eyebrow. I had fears at first, just as you do. Those fears were quickly put to rest. Unless you are doing something to push your status in their face, I just can't imagine anyone saying, to you or your managers, "I don't want to be served by that person."

If I'm wrong, please let me know. I don't think I am.

HUGS

Carolyn Marie

[Guest SonadoraXVX]

Well, to put it softly, I enforce certain laws, since I work in a legal department and my agency is very adverserial, enforcing laws which helps families(ie. a clue, we used to be associated with the D.A. in L.A. County), reason I'm kind of leary.

Lucia,

[Guest ashleynikole]

I've seen a couple of you post about being self-employed and was curious if you have any pointers telling your current clients what is going on?

Obviously moving forward you can simply engage new clients in your desired presentation mode, but I'm curious how any of you have gone about coming out to current clients of your business? Also included in this may be if you are a co-founder of a business, how you come out to your partners.

God bless

Ashley