If you meet

[ChelseaAnn]

So, I have quite a dilemma. I need an honest opinion so I don't accidentally put anyone in any kind of danger. Due to my work in construction trades, I go just about everywhere. Currently, I'm on a small college campus.
During the course of my work in the building we're in, I have seen a small room with daily staff in it. Outside the door is a sign for the local Ally program, saying Allies Inside.
On top of that, I suspect that one of the staff members, who appears to be student staff, is transgender. If she is, she has fully transitioned. Her voice is what makes me suspect. It is on the deeper side, and it sounds much the way I sound when I go out as female and try to disguise my voice.
That being said, I'm still male, and not transitioning anytime soon. I could go chat with her after my coworkers leave, but like I said, I don't know how to go about this, or know if I should even do anything. Overall, our trade is not friendly towards LGBT, and no one knows about me in our trade. I have proof on my phone of my trans status, such as this site, and pictures of me going out as Chelsea. I just think they would suspect I'm trying to out her or hurt her, or say something nasty.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on meeting another trans person in public, especially in my complicated situation where I do not appear trans at all. I won't do anything right now, but we leave the site on Tuesday.

[KathyLauren]

The general rule, when you see someone that you suspect or know is trans, to say nothing.  For many people, it is dangerous to have that aspect of their life revealed.  The only exception is if you and the other person have made arrangements that it is okay to be out to each other.  Even then, you should be aware of your surroundings and avoid saying anything that would out them to others, unless you know that they want to be out.

There are people in my support group that I can address by their new name in public with no harm done, because they have told me that that is okay.  And there are others that, if I recognize them in public, I might just give a smile and a nod and say "Hi"  without using their name, or acknowledging their trans status, because they are not out.

You can invite other trans people to approach you by wearing something that identifies you as trans, such as the trans pride flag, or the triangle pendant.  If you see someone wearing such a symbol, it is fine to approach them and tell them that you like their pin/pendant/whatever.  You can then arrange to go somewhere to talk.

You could probably go to the Ally Program office and say you want to be or to have an ally.  That would probably get you an introduction to anyone who is trans.

[Gertrude]

I am a SafeZone ally at work which is at a huge university. What happens in a meeting stays there. You can voice your concerns to them if you go to a meeting, but there are consequences if they violate that trust.


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[Megan.]

Agree with Kathy,  I'm sure you'd be welcomed as an ally, and you'd be free to introduce yourself however you feel comfortable, but even if I come across another trans* person, however much I'd like to show them support, I just treat them politely as I would anyone.

I've posted previously about another trans* person who outed me in the middle of the busy doctors waiting area. I'm not stealth and I wanted to show them my support, but it was a very awkward experience for me.

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[Devlyn]

The old "I'm trans, too" is possibly the worst way to go. We can always out ourselves, but never out someone else.

Hugs, Devlyn

[ChelseaAnn]

I think, following your advice, I'll just leave it. After Tuesday, I'd have no more contact with her than I do with any of you. It is nice to see someone who has stepped into their life fully, and keeps my hopes up for my future.