How to Come Out at Work as LGBTQIA+

For trans people, coming out is a complex, exciting, overwhelming, and a scary process. There is always anxiety surrounding being accepted by loved ones and the opinions of strangers.

One of the more challenging social contexts where you might decide to come out is in the workplace.

There is a lot at stake when you come out at your workplace since it is your source of income and you possibly already have established rapport with each of your colleagues.

It is natural to be concerned about any potential conflicts that could emerge from your coming out.  

First thing you must do is assess and analyze your company and your peers to determine if this is actually the right step for you.

In the majority of companies, there should be no issues that emerge once you come out. However, in around 5% of the companies, this news could be met with a transphobic mentality, creating rifts as well as a hostile work environment.

Thus, it is very important to analyze such variables, potentially by initiating discourses regarding this topic.

If the general vibe in your workplace is positive with respect to trans identity, you could plan your next step.

Otherwise, you must determine how important it is for you to come out and weigh it against any potential repercussions of your coming out. Thus, you must essentially identify the sources of future conflicts.

The second step entails finding allies in the workplace. The fact is that coming out is merely a part of the process.

Handling the reactions and changes brought about by this announcement is the more important aspect. Therefore, it is very important to find people who are willing to support your cause.   

You can count on HR to be supportive, since it is essentially their job. However, sometimes, their personal prejudices may come in the way of their responsibilities.

At the end of the day, they are meant to protect the company. As such, you are primarily in charge of your own safety and peace at your organization.

Once you communicate your news to the HR and your allies, remember to keep your manager in loop as well.

The reason is that they are your immediate supervisor with a thorough understanding of your role and responsibilities.

As such, if you are having trouble with your duties while transitioning, they could come to your support. Since you are transitioning your entire identity and changing personas while continuing to fulfill your professional responsibilities, life can get slightly overwhelming.

This is particularly true once you come out, since people’s perceptions and opinions of you might alter to a certain extent and the way you present yourself in the professional space will also evolve.   

 

Therefore, coming out to these three parties before you officially come out can go a long way in making the process more seamless and less overwhelming.

When you are doing so, it is best to engage with them one-on-one so you can address the topic and answer any questions or concerns they might have.

You can take them out for coffee, communicate what you discovered about yourself, introduce your pronouns, and convey to them that you hope your professional relationship remains the same moving forward. 

 

As far as your pronouns are concerned, it will take some time for your colleagues to get used to them.

Try not to raise conflicts unless absolutely necessary and try to understand that this is a change for them as well as and they may need time to adapt and get habituated.

The goal is to ensure that things remain normal and cordial over the long-term. This means ignoring issues and awkwardness that may crop up in the immediate future.

The majority of people would misgender you erroneously and not to offend you in any manner. Try to be understanding and patient in order to avoid workplace conflict.   

The most important thing to remember in a professional context is that you must learn to pick your battles. This is your source of income and as such, try not to react in a way that could jeopardize it. 

We hope this article has equipped you with the tools necessary to come out at your workplace. Good luck!!

 

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