Coming Out at Small Office

[AshleyC]

More than anything, I'm afraid of coming out at work.

I work at a very small (staff-wise) film/TV production company. We have five full-time staff members, and work with freelancers for everything else.

I'm not worried about my co-workers so much, but I'm scared to death about the idea of coming out t my boss. I've heard him, on several occasions, make off-hand comments that make me believe this may not go super well.

Examples: He still thinks calling someone gay is a way to tease/make fun of them (I've heard him on calls with old friends). Someone once mentioned that Caitlyn Jenner was hot, and his response was "Eww dude, she used to be a guy."

I don't think he's hateful, I just think he doesn't think about how things he says can be taken.

Does anyone have stories (good or bad) about coming out in an intimate work environment?

[jfong]

I came out in my office of around 20 people or so. But I did it step by step, telling one person at a time to gauge the general consensus. Once I feel comfortable with it then I approached my boss. I have never heard my boss did what your boss did, so I am not sure if in your situation it is a safe thing to do. Does the state you live in have an explicit trans protection in the law?

[AshleyC]

I live in Canada, so trans people are pretty well protected.

One real concern I have is that I'm technically a contract worker, and I'm worried I will find myself without an extension offer come August, despite me doing great work here for four years.

[jfong]

ah so am I. Here in Vancouver it is pretty liberal in this kind of things.

[Fresas con Nata]

Sadly I can't contribute a lot here. I'm in your position, there are like 40 people at my employer's office. When the news about the second Wachowski coming out broke, I was there and had a chance to hear the comments. I expect my revelation won't be catastrophic but it won't be easy either.

I'm already out to my immediate superior. His reaction was apparently fine, but he obviously needs a bit of time to let it sink in.

Not sure whether to tell some people in secret and then working with HR, or going to HR only and then drop the bomb.

The good thing of not being on HRT yet is that I have lots of time to think about this until it's time.

[AshleyC]

Yeah, I'm hoping I can start HRT in January, so I'm still very early stages in all this as well. I just like thinking and planning ahead. Life has enough surprises!

[KathyLauren]

I live in Canada, so trans people are pretty well protected.

There is federal legislation in the works, but it is not law yet.  So whatever protection you have depends on which province you live in.

Unfortunately, that is a down side of contract work: the employer can just not renew it without giving a reason.  That makes it harder, though not necessarily impossible, to bring a human rights case against them.