Coming Out in the Workplace as Transgender
“So this is the bottom line for me. The results of a lifetime of struggling with self-definition. It is OK to be me, who I am. It is OK to tell people the truth about myself. It is OK to live and work as I truly am. It is OK for the world to know who I am. In fact, it’s not just OK to do that. It is absolutely necessary. I am Debra Davis. I am a proud human being. … David is not here anymore — Debra will be working here from now on.”
— Debra Davis, male-to-female transsexual, addressing staff and faculty at Southwest High School in Minneapolis, 1998
It's not easy to come out on the job, even if you've already come out to your family and friends. Those who come out as transgender in the workplace are often met with ignorance and a lack of respect. Some transgender people lose their jobs, face discrimination and bigotry or are forced to quit in order to avoid negative reactions and hostility.
It’s important to take inventory of the risks involved with being out at work. Coming out on the job has the potential to affect your livelihood, since there is no federal law that protects you from being fired because of your gender identity. However, many states, cities and counties have laws or ordinances that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and expression. Additionally, a number of other states interpret their existing non-discrimination laws to protect transgender people. It's important to know the law in your city or state before coming out at work.
Additionally, more corporations and businesses in the private sector are beginning to cover gender identity and expression in their non-discrimination policies. A growing number of private sector employers include gender identity in their non-discrimination policies, including such Fortune 500 companies such as IBM and J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
“Most employers wouldn’t knowingly create a hostile work environment for the employees in whom they have invested time and training,” says Diego Sanchez, director of TransHealth and Education and Development at the Justice Resource Institute. “Inclusive policies help a company retain valuable employees.”If you are transgender, you may wish to discuss your personal situation with a trusted manager, supervisor or human resources professional before coming out to co-workers.
Due to the possible consequences, there are many important questions to ask yourself before coming out at work.
