I can't believe how well work has been

[Megumi]

I went full time two weeks ago and started going to work authentically with the support of my boss and management I had just legally changed my name and managed to get my gender marker & name changed on my driver's license & birth certificate along with my social security card and only lasted two days before I had to tell my boss that I was going to transition at work and we need to work with HR on some polices so we can all transition into this with as much ease as possible. They changed all of my information over internally and I was allowed to have a new badge made with the right name and picture on it. Best of all I get to use the RIGHT bathroom. At first they wanted me to use one Male/Female bathroom that they would build in the facility. I flat out refused that and gave a very good reason as to why that was a really bad idea so we worked things out.

To say news about me being transgender swept people off their feet would be an understatement. Nobody saw this coming even though I was trying my best to make it noticeable in the last two months that something is going on with me. You could clearly see my boobs! But it always went unnoticed. Even so, with everyone in a daze nearly every person at work as been incredibly nice and respectful to me. Before I came out I was well respected for being a very good employee and just a absolutely nice person that gets along with everyone. So maybe that helped when I came to work for the first time and people got to see me for the first time. Many folks had my name and pronouns down from day one, others are having a hard time but are trying their best and just a small group of people who are in my department sadly are giving me the cold shoulder but will still work with me and talk to me if I start the conversation. I bet they will come around at some point, I can only guess they feel betrayed that I never told them about this until after me and my boss made the announcement.

I just can't believe it! I always expected people to flat out hate me for being transgender since soooooo many people always had VERY negative comments about the LGBTQ community. I guess it's true that people have those feelings until someone close to them that they care about are part of that community. They probably don't know how grateful and thankful I am for the reception I have received. So many people have stopped me and said they were happy that I was happy. These are random folks who have seen me roam the halls but never worked with. Same with my friends who have known me for years. They are happy that I am happy and sure that this is right for me. I'm very lucky to be surrounded with so much support. It's almost scary to look back to 10 months ago when I had ZERO people in my corner for support and now I have hundreds

[Ms Grace]

That's great news. I imagine that you are a friendly, positive, productive, well respected person in your workplace. People are usually more inclined to be supportive of a person going through transition if they perceive them in a good light, less so if that person is unfriendly, negative and unproductive. It's not 100% given of course, and there have been many awesome people given a hard a time in their work place because of prejudice but it sounds like you have a great workplace.

[mm]

Magumi, great for you to have such a good start with everyone welcoming you.  May I ask what industry you are working in and what is your job?

[Megumi]

Magumi, great for you to have such a good start with everyone welcoming you.  May I ask what industry you are working in and what is your job?

I work in a large factory with over 1000 employee's as a technician in the deep south of America. The makeup of the factory is pretty much 50% male & 50% female.

[Megumi]

That's great news. I imagine that you are a friendly, positive, productive, well respected person in your workplace. People are usually more inclined to be supportive of a person going through transition if they perceive them in a good light, less so if that person is unfriendly, negative and unproductive. It's not 100% given of course, and there have been many awesome people given a hard a time in their work place because of prejudice but it sounds like you have a great workplace.

Funny thing is something along those lines have been said by a few folks to me. Even though they are having a hard time the simple fact that they liked me so much as a person is what has helped them overcome their preconceived thoughts of transgender people and some of their own prejudices. A lot thought that Jerry Springer "my parents included  " show's portrayal of transgender people is how we are all like. I dislike that show and others like it so much because it has done nothing but cause so many trouble.