Coming Out to Coworkers, and Surprising Your Regular Customers

[mechakitty]

Okay, so, I work at a fairly small store with maybe twenty employees. We're a very small, tight-knit workforce. I've come out to several of the female staff members that I trust and get along with, as well as my store manager. My store manager has also notified the vice-president of the company (we're a small company of just over ten locations), and everyone pretty much has my back on this that I've told, including said vice-pres, who has basically laid down a no-tolerance policy on discrimination towards me. Awesome.

That said, how would you go about coming out to everyone at a job like this? Should I write a letter to everyone? Should I have management tell everyone? Should I go one-on-one with people about it? I think I owe it to my coworkers to let them know ahead of time, even if I'm sure everyone would be supportive. I guess that's a question for management; it's their discretion on how to handle it, I'm sure.

As a side question, if you were in a similar situation to me, what was it like seeing regular customers for the first time transitioned? I am basically the face of my store: I work at the front registers and customer service desk, and I'm there the most out of anyone. I have a pretty regular acquaintanceship with most of our regular employees. Was this hard for you to deal with? "Oh hai, I'm a girl now. How are you today?" I mean, I won't have a chance to come out to them ahead of time. They'll just have to see me as I am one day. That'll be awkward.

[Diane Elizabeth]

  I think I can only answer part of your posting.  As to how to officially come out to all employees you should work with HR and let management handle the announcement.  Maybe at a time you are on vacation for a few days or a week.  This way they can restipulate company policy (if they have one) on GLBT issues and show their support for you.  Let them get the awkward crap out of the way without you being exposed.  The company can decide how they want to present the situation to the public as well. 

   You do not want to put anyone, especially customers, in an awkward uncomfortable position.  So work out a plan with you boss.  Try to let them lead you on how they want to handle it.   But it is your life so maintain flexibility with them. 

   Let us know how it goes for you.

[justmeinoz]

Hi, Kitty.  I came out to the people at the Lab from which I had just resigned to return to study, by letter.  Several knew of my situation, but I felt that being in a rural city I should avoid surprising anyone.
It's fairly long so I will PM it to you, you can use as much or as little of it as you like, or just use it for ideas.

Karen.

[Renate]

As for the customers, a nice new name tag will do the trick.
Those who care might ask, those who don't won't.

[mechakitty]

Thanks everyone. 

I'm still really nervous, but then again, I'm not going full-time for another four or five months.

So, I have time to prepare this.