I have a huge presentation coming up, but I'm not out, help

[David27]

I signed up for a competition because it seemed like a good senior project, but I didn't think through the part where we present to a huge professional group if we got into the finals. I was wondering the best way to go about explaining my discomfort with using my legal name. I think my group will be ok with it. However, I should probably inform the faculty advisor/department head. I'm unsure of how to do this because my department is DADT about GLBT people. Also I will be looking into changing my name/gender under the specific organizations records.

Is an email appropriate or should I talk to dept. head after our travel logistics meeting?  I'm worried because this department isn't GLBT friendly and I don't want this to F up my last semester.

[MadeleineG]

Presumably, they allow nicknames? Just tell them that you prefer to be addressed as (I presume) Trenton. It shouldn't really require any context or exposition if you choose not to offer any.

[Mr.X]

Your situation is very similar to mine about a month ago. I wasn't out to my department either, but I had to present my final thesis to the entire department of professionals and students. They would introduce me with my girl name, while T had changed my voice and appearance too much. I couldn't even pass in girl mode anymore, even if I wanted to.

Not sure what DADT means, but a mail sounds appropriate. Tell the person who will announce you to announce you with your chosen name. He or she may not agree with it, but he or she should also not ignore your wishes. My professor had no issues with it at all, immediately changed my name, told the person who would introduce me to use my chosen name and no issues were had. I hope you will be given the same treatment.

[David27]

Don't ask don't tell is what it means. Many students and professors don't feel comfortable around GLBT people. I don't hangout with classmates outside of class, so they probably assume I'm butch. I've noticed more that they seem to avoid me, but it could be my own bias.

I can change my name, gender, and prefix with the organization, but the dept. might freak out as they once were disqualified for some thing unrelated. They seemed paranoid about being disqualified when they talked to us at the beginning of the year. I might have to resign and then unresign with a different name to fix this.

[sneakersjay]

Can you just use your initials on the presentation, and have them call you a nickname?


Jay

[MadeleineG]

Can you just use your initials on the presentation, and have them call you a nickname?

That's an excellent suggestion with lots of precedent. There's a long history of academics obscuring gender by using only initials.