Coming out at work

[LeeAnn]

I know it has been a while since I have been here, but I am back. SO much as happened in the last month or so.... I have finally decided to live full time (well as long as I am not around my older sister who is a bitch about it). I have told my boss, who already knew as well as 99% of the other people in my department. So this Tuesday will be my day of rebirth at work so to speak.

When I informed my boss I was ready, she got in touch with HR. She set up a meeting with her, myself and two people from HR. It could not have gone any better. HR told me that day was they day of my start of transitioning at work. They gave me some articles to read about their policies (I am allowed to use the female bathroom yhea!!!!). They also told me that once I got back to my desk I could change my email signature to my new name. They told me that if I had any questions or issues I could get with them.

The next day when I got to my desk I received a wonderful email from a coworker who I was uncertain on how he would take it. He stated that most people knew and they had been following my Face Book for some time. I already knew that. He also told me that he was happy I was taking that step to be happy and it was about time lol. I go with him and a few others at work to lunch on occasion, he told me that would not change. Very happy to hear that.

There is one person at work that hates people who do not conform to what he considers normal. He as been a friend since childhood. I have to thank him for pushing me. We were at lunch and there was a news segment on TV talking about transgenders. He called them freakazoids. My blood instantly boiled and I told him very sternly that was wrong. He stopped and then went on how he thinks that transgenders are evil and wrong. Transgenders should be beaten up if they use the correct restroom.

Later that day I was finished living in fear and living with hate like his. I got the courage to ask my boss to talk to HR. She has been VERY supportive. At the meeting she stated that everyone knew and it would probably not be a big surprise that I was coming out. She got my group together (without me, I had to sit outside). When I was able to enter the room it seemed that everyone was so cool with it.

I belong to a Employee Resource Group at work for the LGBT community. I am an officer of the group. I have great support there as well. It has been a great experience. The people there are going to take me to lunch on Tuesday to celebrate the new me.

So there you have it. I am so excited. I hope I can win over my old friend. I really do not think he is full of hate, I think it is more to do with that he is not happy at all. It tears me up to see him sometime as I can feel the unhappiness in him.

Have a great day and I hope to see some of you on chat inthenear future so was can catch up.



Lee Ann Christine

[CharLee]

Congrats LeeAnn hope all goes well for you

[Carole Hill]

I hope that all goes well for you in this new phase of your life.

[DeniseL]

Congratulations and i hope all goes well for you.

Know it is a big concern when you are first coming out, and so thankful that you had a good experience

Denise

[KimberlyS]

Yea, hope it continues to go well for you.

[Emily]

Awesome, LeeAnn!

Good for you! Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope that your friend will eventually come around and accept. It must be a difficult situation, but with time and patience...?

Good luck, LeeAnn!

[DonnaT]

Congrats, LeeAnn.

[Penelope Carol]

Congratulations LeeAnn! I expect your colleague will learn the error of his ways because he will have to choose between working in co-operation with you or leaving the organization. My guess is he will choose to stay. And if everybody else accepts you then we must presume that acceptance is normal behaviour.
Best regards!

[Andi B]

This is a dream I will never be able to enjoy. Good for you for fighting for yourself and being so gosh darn brave!

[Ms. Erin]

Congratulations girl.

Haters will be haters, so don't expect to much of them (him) Yes they (he) will have to obey the company rules, but that might be as far as he will go.

Still, its going to be so great at work now that your set free.

[LeeAnn]

The last thing I would call myself is brave, I was just sick and tired of living a lie. It took me over two years to tell my boss I was ready. I told her two years ago I was trans. She told me that when I was ready to come out she would be there beside me. She was true to her word.

Last week at work it was like nothing I had expected. I was taken to lunch by a person from our HR department. I also went to lunch on Friday with coworkers and had a great time. One of the coworkers told me that a disparaging remark was said by someone (gee I cannot guess wht that was lol). I have not heard anything from others except positive feedback.

Well I do feel much more comfortable at work. It has been such a positive experience. I even had an old boss (who now is my customer I guess) and he prayed with me. He asked Jesus to have my transition experience be a positive one. It was one of the best feelings to do that. Others at the site were very cool with it.

well I need to get back to whatever. I have to wash my bed sheets and a few other things.

LeeAnn

[KimberlyS]

Glad it continues to go well for you and hope it continues. Yea you had a bad comment come though the grapevine, but going to have some of those. There is always a downer person around . Just do not let them get you down as it just just one comment. Continue doing what you are doing and you may just change their mind. If you do not change their mind it is not worth changing.

[Requal Jo]

Congratulations LeeAnn. It must now be a big burden of your mind. All the best for your continued transition.

[Diana Michelle]

Congratulations LeeAnn! Coming out to anyone let alone at work can present issues, sounds like it has gone well so far. Most companies of any size nowadays at least some form of a policy addressing this. I wish you the best and keep us informed on your progress.

[Penelope Carol]

I posted a reply to the original post on this topic back in April last year when the topic was a new one on the forum. At that time I was contemplating coming out at work myself although it would be several months before that happened.
In mid-December 2017 I approached a member of my team who was the team's Diversity Champion and broached the subject by quietly pointing out the traces of nail polish on my fingers. She quickly understood what I was telling her and said she thought the team would all be supportive. It certainly boosted my confidence to have confided in someone.
In the team meeting on the Friday that week I announced I had something to tell the team and they listened while I told them that I was transgender and intended to live as a woman. It was a week before the office would largely break up for Christmas and I had intentionally given the team leader some time to find out what he needed to. In the days that followed I said I would like to resume work as a female on 2 January and be known as Penelope (or Penny for short).
All of that was okayed. I work for a UK Government department and they pride themselves on Diversity. My colleagues, especially those I work closely with, have shown excellent attitudes, treating me, more or less, as if nothing had changed. I am, after all, still the same person. If any of the others have negative thoughts, then they must be keeping that to themselves. And, I'm pleased to say, eight months down the line, there have never been any problems in the ladies' room.