What's your DREAM JOB that you cannot do cos of DISCRIMINATION?

[Mara]

*Crosses her fingers and wishes ... *

Er ... I should write something on topic.

I don't think there's a job in the US you can't have because you are Trans per-se.  There are area's of the country it would be difficult to get a job, though.   Like I think Wyoming or North/South Dakota might be a challenge, but not impossible.  And discrimination would be for all women and not just the TG folks.  And technically, that sort of discrimination is illegal in the US, so if you proved it, you could sue and make some change that way.

Sorry, but it's not illegal to discriminate against trans people in the United States, and if you're discriminated against because you're a woman, they can just claim it was because you're trans instead and that's okay.   I think there's only like 12 states that have laws against it, and some cities in other states, but that's it.  The federal government was successfully sued by Diane Schroer for firing her, but I think that was a special case.  Also, transsexuality is considered a mental illness by the military so we can't serve, regardless of Don't Ask Don't Tell.

[LordKAT]

As I recall, government workers are also protected.

[Lee]

I'm not so sure about that.  My dad and brother work for the government, and after their required discrimination training, my brother noted that the only group it was legal to discriminate against was trans people.  This was a few years ago, so things may have changed since then.
Edit: This is in Colorado.

[CaitJ]

I work in the NZ branch of a big American based IT firm and they specifically stipulate that you cannot discriminate against an employee based on their gender identity. I would hope that they're not the only company like this in the States.

[Rebekah with a K-A-H]

I think the only federal protection transsexuals in the US have is against hate crimes. Which, well, I guess it's better than nothing, but it's kind of depressing.

I hope to have most of my paperwork changed and everything done before serious employment is necessary to support myself, but it is a scary thought that I could be fired at any time if I were to not disclose and someone figured it out.

[Lisa]

Anything is possible given time and effort.

[Epigania]

My understanding is Obama closed the TG loophole for federal employment discrimination.  In fact I could swear a high ranking official is openly trans. 

The company I work for has very explicit rules against discrimination too, Vexing.  In fact most large companies do.  Much of the west coast has state laws protecting us front it.

[kody2011]

I always wanted to be a bull rider...when I tlkd to the university rodeo team coach, he laughed at me....until I said I was serious...his response: we don't let girls ride.

[regan]

As I recall, government workers are also protected.

Some government workers have explicit protections.  All government workers have some form of the merit system, which makes for a very stuctured way of having to terminate someone.  There may not be specific protections for transgendered employees, but it doesn't make it any easier to fire you.  Besides even an employer with specific protections, or not, is going to find some other reason to terminate you (usually performance related) anyways.

Written policies make for good marketing and not much else.

[Epigania]

It looks like they added Gender Identity to the US Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Polices about a year ago:

http://www.aclu.org/lgbt-rights/administration-adds-gender-identity-equal-employment-opportunity-policies

Now if we could just get ENDA out of limbo ...

[Lee]

  Thanks for correcting me Epigania.  I'm glad to hear it's changed.

[Epigania]

Thanks for correcting me Epigania.  I'm glad to hear it's changed.

Sorry I wasn't trying to be contradictory or anything.  There was just a line of posts from folks talking about it and I thought I'd post the link to an article about the policy change.

[glendagladwitch]

Title VII also prevents U.S. employers who have more than 15 employees from discriminating against people for failing to conform to gender stereotypes, and that protection has successfully included transexuals in several cases.  Google Price Waterhouse line of cases and title vii.

[Lee]

Sorry I wasn't trying to be contradictory or anything.  There was just a line of posts from folks talking about it and I thought I'd post the link to an article about the policy change.

I didn't mean to sound angry or anything.  I'm genuinely glad to hear that.  Sorry if it came across differently.

Title VII also prevents U.S. employers who have more than 15 employees from discriminating against people for failing to conform to gender stereotypes, and that protection has successfully included transexuals in several cases.  Google Price Waterhouse line of cases and title vii.

Too bad there are only three of us at my work.  Oh well, this is my last week there anyways.  On to bigger and better things. 

[glendagladwitch]

Here's an article on the Titl VII extension to sex stereotyping cases, especially with regard to transitioners.

http://www.imakenews.com/employlaw/e_article001223710.cfm?x=bdsM2n3,b2jr3qF0,w

[japple]

I have my dream job and I'm the boss so the only one who can discriminate against me is myself.  I don't think I discriminate but I have a staff full of lefties.

If you're at all creative, consider working for yourself. 

I have read that some people find gender expression in their career choice by choosing historically male/female jobs.  I thought that was interesting and a bit strange to me.

[Kitpup]

My dream job is a full time self-employed artist, so I would figure I'd not be discriminated against doing that. My realistic job is doing CG/character art for movies/games and as far as I know they only care if you can do the work well in that industry.

[japple]

My dream job is a full time self-employed artist, so I would figure I'd not be discriminated against doing that. My realistic job is doing CG/character art for movies/games and as far as I know they only care if you can do the work well in that industry.

I've done work in games and features and I can assure you that no one gives a crap. It's all about the work.  Creator or poser.   A "boy's club" pays the bills though, a MTF trans person would definitely face discrimination at a certain level.

[tekla]

The only trouble with being self-employed in a creative field is that your business ability has to be on a par with your creative ability.

[Nygeel]

I want to work with kids but working with kids means working with parents. Before I was fully out at my former job (which did involve children) a mother complained and said their child was crying and scared of me because of my appearance. I think the kid was a year old...maybe a year and a half. I totally could have a job in childcare but I don't more so because of parents' attitudes as opposed to discrimination.