In honor of LGBT Pride Month, I thought my first ever blog would be devoted to this topic, and specifically Transgender Awareness. I must admit that, although I have been facilitating diversity discussions for over 25 years, the transgender topic has not emerged very frequently until just a few years ago. As a result, I was pretty uncomfortable interacting with people who were in the transition process. Not surprisingly, I avoided close contact. Social distance in action.
Then last October I had the opportunity to facilitate a session on Transgender Issues in the Workplace at the 2013 “Out & Equal” Conference, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With this opportunity also came a decision to make. “Would I continue to avoid and unintentionally exclude or would I face my discomfort and engage, in order to intentionally include?” Those of you who know me also know that it did not take me long to decide to be intentionally inclusive – this is my life’s work and passion!
And therefore, I met some amazing individuals and had some enlightening conversations/experiences with people at all different stages of the transgender process. Here is some of what I learned:
- Transgendered people are (surprise, surprise) a lot like me! They are fun, funny, honest, and open. They want to be involved in meaningful conversations with people who value them for who they really are, and for the uniqueness they bring to the table.
- Individuals who have already transitioned (meaning that they have had all of the counseling, surgery, and support needed to reflect the gender that they innately feel they are) are super happy, fully productive, and living the lives they had always hoped that they would.
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Individuals who are transitioning (meaning that they are in the process of receiving counseling, may or may not be taking hormone treatments, and are often dressing as the gender they innately feel they are) want to be seen and acknowledged as the individual they are becoming. It really hurts them when someone calls her “sir”, when she is dressed in a skirt and wearing make-up. Please call her “miss” or “ma’am.”
- Individuals who are considering a transition need to be supported, affirmed, and unconditionally accepted for who they innately are and believe themselves to be. Frankly, doesn’t that really pertain to us all?
If you, like I, are interested in learning more about this important topic, here are two links for more information: Transgender 101 and Understanding Gender
By: Maria White, Founder and President of Inclusity, LLC | June 20, 2014
