So I wanted to both vent somewhat and also to let people know what is occurring on my side of the world. IE Australia.
A few months ago I spoke to my team leader where I work about being intersex at birth and the psychologically problems it has had on me over the years. However, being as we are both Social workers things got more in-depth and we both found ourselves opening up to each other about our histories and family. As a result I stated I was transgender also and was about to commence with my transition as of the 30th May 2017. She was fantastic about it all and we agreed to speak once every few days for 15 mins about it and any issues I had about my transition.
By the 10th of May I had changed my plans and called a staff meeting for my team at work so I could advice them of what I was doing, how, why and the process. The outcome was fantastic with those present being supportive and giving the standard "You are so brave" and "I knew something was different about you" etc etc. Over the next 12 days I grew more comfortable with the girls at work and we all spoke about ourselves and the atmosphere was great to be a part off. I was starting to smile a lot and act like one of the group. I was asked to the "girls only nights" despite my not presenting as female yetI was treated like one of the gang.
side-note: I am not ready to change my appearance fully. Instead I am 100% androgynous, which is funny as the girls at work have stole all my hair ties on many occasions so that I would have to wear my hair down past my shoulders. This made a few of my clients (small children) flip out as they kept asking are you a boy or girl?
Unfortunately, the story of my coming out so to speak was now reaching other areas of the agency I work for meaning all the upper management, HR and public relations had just been fully informed. With this happening I started to spot odd people in the offices I work from. Indeed, one particular fellow was giving me daggers all the time. It turned out he was our senior HR person.
This uncomfortable feeling continued from him every time I saw him, whilst the girls at work and I grew closer and would often laugh, joke or act up like any group of friends. Sadly, at the end of one work day I got a email requesting I attend a meeting with the HR guy and another manager from an other area. They sat me down and stated, "Sorry but we are not renewing your contract." I asked why and the HR fellow stated, "We just won't be."
Now I am a Social worker so I advocate a lot of the time, I was also born and raised in Ireland so I can be very firm when cornered. Moreover, I am unfortunately very smart and often think things through ahead of time, which is a problem as I can appear a bit blunt when I know people are wrong. That said, I am glad I did as I had brought along several policies and procedures just in case.
I selected one that stated I was to be informed in writing and verbally why I was no longer required given the high demand in the community for my services as a children's psychotherapist. He did not react well and became a bit gruff with his replies indicating it was a financial issue and they could not obtain funding for my position. I explained to him this was incorrect as we had over 120% more clients that was mandated by the government funding bodies, so in reality my role was funded for 2-4 years more. He got more annoyed and refused to speak but I did and stated, "So no funding issues, but you do have an issue and I feel it is related to the way you have been staring at me." His eyes widened. I continued, "So I can only deduce you either like me a lot more than you are comfortable with or you do not like the idea I am changing my gender at work." He exploded and reported, "Listen here you >-bleeped-< I am not going to break a sweat over you leaving as it is your word against mine and at this time I hold all the cards and you hold none."
I walked out as stoic looking as I could before bursting into tears in my office, where upon one of the girls I work with spotted me and spoke to me. I must have been in shock as I told her only that I had lost my job then I walked out. That was three weeks ago and since then I have had to leave my community of 20 years with both my children (under 10 years old) and move 600kms away to stay at my parents home because less than 24 hours after the event I was contacted by a old friend in another agency who advised my story was now public knowledge. I have not slept, ate or socialized at all resulting in my father having a doctor prescribe me medication and bed rest as well as him applying for workcover funding for me(government pays your wages etc while they investigated my claims). So right now I am a bit of a mess as I have to rebuild my confidence, regain my composure and commence with the process of finding another job due to one ignorant man child.
I am unsure how to proceed honestly but I think once my claim is official I will contact a lawyer in South Australia to help me build a case for gender discrimination.
It is a terrible thing to think people like him still exist in our society.
