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Coming out is in itself a challenge, regardless of the place, time, person or people that you might come out to. Here are some things you could do to do it right especially in the workplace.


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Come Out as Transgender at Work


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EditSteps

  1. 1
    Know your company's general policies and outlooks. Speak to your boss or anyone in higher authority about the company's tolerance to employee's differences. Try to learn about your company's LGBT policies and your country's discrimination laws.
  2. 2
    Decide who to talk to first. You may opt to come out to your boss or anyone who is in charge of your employment. Gradually come out to everyone because there no point in being discreet when you want to come out.
    • There's no rule that says you need to "come out" with a big meeting or announcement. You can just gradually reveal more personal details about yourself;this choice should be yours. Being private throughout your employment won't help you coming out, it pushes you slowly back into your closet, why should you be afraid to reveal who you truly are, people respect those people who are open when they say they are out and open, don't hide and be coy. It arouses people's suspicion and they might not trust you after they learn that you're dishonest and mysterious.
  3. 3
    Decide how you want to come out to colleagues. It should be your choice whether you make your personal life very public, or private. You can ask for time with your team to talk about it openly, Do what you're most comfortable with, but make sure you come clean about your identity, other details can be private if you wish but if you're coming out then make sure they know your identity.
    • In many countries, this privacy is guaranteed by law which you could use it to your advantage but this won't help you coming out if you decide to be private in the first place. The goal here, is to come out not be private.
  4. 4
    Use education to your advantage. The only easiest way to do this is to educate people about transgendered people by creating awareness, which is the key to acceptance. Remember that immediate acceptance can be hard to come by. Give them some time to come to terms with it, usually the people close to you, might need the most time to digest this.
  5. 5
    Deal with repercussions. What if this method doesn't work out for you; then what?
    • If your country has legal protections that guard against harassment and discrimination for transgendered employees, use those rights. If you think your coming out has impacted your career path, you feel harassed or unaccepted at work which usually happens if you're not totally honest, get legal help. If your country has no legal protections then try to find out support groups in your area to help you out, and even if there are no support groups to help then try to form an alliance with people like you around your area and come out together. Remember united we stand, divided we fall.
    • Consider another place of work. There are thousands of places where people look past your condition and see the amazing person you truly are. There are people who don't care who you are, what you do or anything superficial; they will only be looking out for the best person for the job so grab a pen and write down the key points you would like to say when you come out and try to modify this every time you come out to someone by using different words and phrases. Avoid cliches like "I am a woman trapped in a man's body" be original! Good Luck!

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EditTips

  • Have some friends who accept you to be present when you come out; people follow others in an awkward situation and will probably understand you better.
  • People who speak on behalf of you will have a greater impact on your acceptance, so bring along a person in a respected position in the society to add power in the meeting.

EditWarnings

  • Never beg for acceptance; be dignified at all cost. After all it is not a choice.

Article Info

Categories: Title | Stub | LGBT Identity | Workplace Management and Coping Skills | Pages with broken file links

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