Northeast USA

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Comment by Eileen Novack on May 4, 2009 at 12:52pm

I have recently joined the ranks of the unemployed, or at least I will on May 25. I have worked for my soon to be ex-employer for nine years, and because of the economic down turn they needed to down size. So here I am four years after transitioning without an issue on my current job, looking for employment for the first time as Eileen. I live on Long Island and have a face to face interview later in the week in the city. I think it will be an interesting experience. Anyone else out there have any suggestions?

Eileen

Comment by Rusty-Mae Moore on April 14, 2009 at 5:02pm

I came out on the job as a professor at Hofstra University (Hempstead, Long Island) in 1993. It was fairly painless. I am still teaching at the same university, and will eventually be retiring after 33 years at Hofstra, 40 as a professor, in August 2011. My role changed a good deal since coming out, as I have seemed to become a sort of cherished person throughout the university, and a go to person for all sorts of people with GLBTQ coming out issues. At the same time, in my home department, some of my older colleagues still have trouble understanding the difference between gay people, queer people, and trans people, and still stumble over which pronouns to use with me. I live in Brooklyn, in a GLBTQ friendly neighborhood (Park Slope) and also have a place upstate near Woodstock, which seems to be accepting or oblivious to T people.

Comment by Helen on April 14, 2009 at 8:21am

I feel fortunate to live in a county where there are some protections for GLBT people. The recent vote in Vermont is something I didn't expect. New York state appears to be going in the right direction. Even though orientation is different than gender-identity, a step toward tolerance and equal protection under the law is a victory for all.

Comment by Reiley Schoen on April 13, 2009 at 8:56am

I am currently transitioning at my place of employment. I am fortunate to work in Ithaca NY where there are protected rights for sexual orientation in my city as well as county. My HR manager has started a diversity forum within our organization to assess the needs as well as develop a plan to reach those needs. I look forward to being a part of this discussion group as well as being a member or transworkplace.

Comment by Laura Gonzales on April 11, 2009 at 2:14pm

Thanks for invite Jillian! Hope you can check out and join my new site,
http://www.tgcd.net
Maybe you can tell others about it too and feel free to contribute to it as well!
Kisses, Laura Gonzales

Comment by Helen on December 21, 2008 at 6:55pm

Hello everyone. I recently learned about transworkplace, and I think its a great forum. I transitioned at my job almost 6 years ago, and things went well. I know that everyone has a different experience and conditions, but I wanted to offer some hope to others. Seems like such a long time ago that I transitioned, but it really isn't. Its funny, but the transition is never really "done" when you are at the same job. There is always someone who knew you from the past-and someone who will mess up a pronoun. Small stuff, but its there. But now its o.k. I have peace in my mind that I never had before. May everyone find that peace!

Comment by Jonas on September 26, 2008 at 7:04pm

I have also been able to speak with my HR person at work and have already sat down with about 20 fellow employees and have explained to them what I am about to venture off to do. They have been great in trying to use male pronouns. They'll get us to it I'm sure. Next week, I tell another 20 co-workers in 2 other states via phone. I just want it out in the open and if they have questions - I'll answer them - within reason of course.

It might make more sense to those who know to call me Jonas but can't find that name in the company email list. They see the other name I'm stuck with right now. They'll get use to it and before long I hope they just forget about the rest and just think of me as the guy in the department. I have started working from home so I think this is the best time for me to do all I can and recover at home. We only meet now once a month and it might be even better for us all while I go through this process. I'm blessed with this company. I sought it out for it's diversity statements and it's well known in the community for hiring people of all backgrounds who can do the job.

Jonas

Comment by Amy Rose on September 25, 2008 at 2:44pm

I'm in southeast Connecticut. My employer knows nothing of what is going on beneath my skin. Fortunately his is out this week. I'm typing this having just recovered from one of my crying spells.
Well I don't know how things will go. I do have a good paying job, from that respect I don't want to lose it. My boss is the president of the company.
I don't know how to get a feel how the company will react without just coming out now.
My appearance though not female is not one of the boys.
The company is in the industry of church supplies. So some time ago I send my boss an email of an article about transgender clergy. His reaction was not negative. He was in fact indignant that some of them are treated so unfairly.
So I was thinking how can I find out what wil really happen...

Comment by Maxine on September 19, 2008 at 5:35pm

Employment is our single hardest issue, perhaps education of the public will end the attitude we are crazy. I think thats the hardest one to swallow, I am not crazy! They look at my resume, show interest, interview and then they face the social issues of intergrating a transsexual into their companies. Then the phone stops ringing.

Comment by Jill Micayla Anglin on September 19, 2008 at 5:19pm

I could have used this in 2000 when I wasn't hired because I was trans. Delaware is one of those states that has a right to work program so employers can discriminate without being considered to be discriminating.

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