I know its been
awhile since I posted. Started a new job and was a little, ok a lot distracted
for the last 2 weeks. I've been on testosterone for 2 months now( 5 shots so
far) still at 80 mg will probably go up next visit, depends on my bloodwork. Physical changes: most noticeable is my
voice, getting deeper every day… I LOVE IT. Before I hated the sound of my own
voice, now I talk just to hear myself :). Peach fuzz on the face increasing and
definitely some hair on my belly….. Woo. My waist is starting to appear more
"box like" less hour glass and the acne is still there UGH. Mentally,
well I feel this giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can live
how I always wanted to…. As myself because as someone once told me "I'm
beautiful in this way, because God makes no mistakes, I'm on the right track
baby, I WAS BORN THIS WAY"- Lady Gaga
Speaking of work,
coming out at work….. It scares me to death. Although gender identity is
protected under equal opportunity RI is an "at will" state. Meaning
that your employer can fire you for any reason, and not tell you. I cannot
confirm this happened to me because I don’t have any hard evidence, but then
again if they don’t need to give you a reason it would be hard to have any
evidence. Coming out to your family and friends is one thing, but coming out at
work WHOLE DIFFERENT BREED. Like any other red-blooded adult, the transgender
person has bills to pay. Hard to do with
no job.
Just to put it into
perspective here's some fancy facts for you:
2017 Workplace Equality Fact Sheet
Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Workplace Discrimination at a Glance:
- One in four LGBT employees report experiencing employment discrimination in the last five years.
- The Transgender unemployment rate is three times higher than the national average.
- Over one quarter (27%) of transgender people who held or applied for a job in the last year reported being fired, not hired, or denied a promotion due to their gender identity.
- More than three-quarters of transgender employees take steps to avoid mistreatment in the workplace.
- Nearly one in 10 LGBT employees have left a job because the environment was unwelcoming.
- 8 percent of LGBT employees report that discrimination negatively affected their work environment.
- LGBT employees who make it into senior management are much more likely to be out than closeted: 71 percent compared to 28 percent of their closeted counterparts.
- In 2014, more than one in four LGBT adults (2.2 million people) struggled to put food on the table.
Well I thought new
job, new start. Yes that’s right I came out at work to my boss, who was
completely cool with it. I told him he would start to notice changes, since I
am already. Most of my coworkers know but not all, and that’s ok, in time they
too will notice something is not quite the same anymore and I am fully prepared
for those conversations. But I'm still scared to death. "At will"
what a horrible loophole.
Coming out at work,
there really is no advice I can give. Other than stay strong, stand by your
convictions, and never apologize for who you are. And yes, you will have to
come out more than once at work, its ok sometimes it takes a second, or a
third, or a fourth, time to sink in. I work hard, no matter the industry I am
in. Working is what drives my day, and yes pays my bills. Working is a part of
who I am.
There is no right
way or wrong way to do it. All I can say is I'm glad I did it.
Jay, you never have to worry about anything at work...we all absolutely love you!! I have told you before and will say it again, thr fact that your transitioning has absolutely NO effect on who you are on the inside as a person! That doesnt change and you are amazing and we are so happy to have you as part of our work family!!
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