So. I started a new job a few weeks ago, and I've been playing it very low key. I live in Colorado, which is one of the states that thankfully includes gender identity in it's EOE laws...but even so, I figured I'd get a feel for the company before I started letting people know the real me. So...I've been wearing the man suit. Ugh.
Anyway....there were a few new additions to the company, and so our district manager thought it would be fun to play the old "two truths and a lie" game. If you're unfamiliar with it, it goes like this....when it's your turn, you state three things about yourself, two of which are true, and one of which is a lie, and the group tries to guess which one might be the lie.
Immediately I chuckled to myself, thinking that it would be a great time to reveal myself, but I tucked that thought away. But then....
The first person to participate included "I have a transgender child" in one of his three facts...which instigates some chuckling around the room. This angered me, especially since as I expected, that turned out to be a lie, and I was just mad that being trans was somehow some kind of joke to these people.
So, when it came to me, I stood up...and with a sly smile said "I used to play drums for a belly dance troupe, I can fly a Cessna Sea plane, and I am a transgender person".
A couple more chuckles, as I made sure to look straight at our first participant when I said the last.
Slowly....the chuckles faded. No one even tried to guess, so I said calmly, in my female voice "I've never set foot in a plane in my life."
You could have heard a pin drop of course...it was priceless. And then our DM Informed me that she felt that I was very brave, and that she was very happy to have me at the company. And no one treated me any different than they had before the whole situation, which was great.
Of course, I will be on my toes watching for anyone who might try to sabotage me, but from what I have seen of the mostly fine people at this company, I'm not too worried. And I have a feeling that they will be more mindful of their words in the future...after all, you never know who might be in the room ;)
You're a badass! :D
That's gotta be the best coming out story ever!
Congratulations! :)
That was bold! Yay you!
I'm really glad you did that after the first participant's dig. You should be proud of yourself. :D
~V
Thank you for being awesome! :-)
Quote from: Jillian on November 23, 2013, 07:27:39 PM
You're a badass! :D
That's gotta be the best coming out story ever!
Congratulations! :)
Badass, indeed!
Thanks for putting a smile on my face! ;D
That's great! So are you fully transitioned there now or still in the man suit? (Also, what was the lie? Please don't tell me it was being a drummer in the belly dance troupe, I'll be so disappointed!)
Awesome way to come out! 8)
LOL! It was a lot of fun...hehehe. As I told the DM, you don't let an opportunity like that go to waste :P
I'm still wearing the man suit at the moment, but now I don't have to worry so much about hiding the process...when the chest of my uniform gets tight for example, people won't be quite so puzzled ;)
AND I can put a bit more of myself back into the mix...I just hate having to take off my nail polish, wear bland earrings, etc.
And Grace..the lie was that I cannot fly a Cessna sea plane ;) "I've never set foot in a plane in my life"
Wow very inspirational!!!
Lol and that's soooo awesome, like "What now?"
Ohh the expressions on people's faces had to be something.
Amazingly cool, Thanks for sharing! :)
That is great!
Congratulations!!!
ToaRaven,
This post has been making me and my spouse smile ALL morning. Priceless!
This was an awesome way to give my spouse a boost this morning as she's working up her courage for the "coming out-s" she is planning for.
YOU were awesome, and thanks for letting us enjoy that moment with you!
Hugs,
Felice
I think we're missing the most important revelation.
Tell us about that belly-dance troupe. ;)
that was an awesome coming out, I have mine to face some time between now and years end as I will be having my ffs shortly after the first of year. I hope i get to have an opportunity arise to make it the perfect moment. if not we have plan with the HR manager for just before everyone leaves for the holidays
congrats
Jerri
TaoRaven, this gives me great joy!
:eusa_clap: :eusa_dance: :icon_joy: :icon_dance: :eusa_clap: :icon_woowoo:
I am so glad that everyone has enjoyed this post :)
IN the next phase of my training at this company, I will be required to work a week at each of the properties in our district, along side the respective resident property managers. After this little event, I don't have to worry about "coming out" to each and every one of them.
It's been a few days now, and I feel more welcome at the company than ever, and I am referred to as "she" by the staff. This is so refreshing!!! And since we wear a uni-sex uniform, I don't even have clothing dysphoria.
I am so glad that I was able to inspire and cheer some of you. You all do that for me every day, and it feels great to be able to return the favor.
As for the dance troupe, my ex-wife (and good friend to this day) performed in a cabaret-style (as opposed to tribal) belly dance troupe for years here in Colorado. My "job" was to either play the drums (which I have been doing since the age of nine) or run the camera, depending on the situation. It was a lot of fun, and I actually learned quite a bit. I'm not a bad dancer myself, but I think I might sign up for my Ex's classes some time. I could use the exercise, and I would love to get better!
Congratulations! There are, literally, tears in my eyes as I read this and the responses. I only hope things will be that way for me. Meanwhile I'm working on plans "B" and "C", because the company I'm in is extremely conservative.
On the positive side, I've just gotten confirmation that one of the recruiters I've used in the past has successfully placed a trans person recently and is aware of the issues... plus the immediate boss who knows has asked to take me to lunch next week. It could be bad news, it could be good news... hard to say at this point.
*hug*
I'm just so damned happy for you! And to think, it came about in defense of a co-worker's trans child! It's so good to hear you have been rewarded so far for taking such bold and courageous action! :)
This all sounds real awesome and Looney Tunes now, but in that moment it had to be really hard. You are brave, and really, an inspiration. Hugs. :)
That was awesome.... I have to ask, what kind of job do you have where thee's a round of basically truth or dare?? OH and my lie would have been I can't play the drums ;-)
Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, I was shaking a bit, both hands and voice. But the moment was simply too priceless to pass up. I would have been kicking myself in the pants for the rest of my life :P
And I'm a property manager, incidentally :)
:icon_clap: Fantastic story! I hope that someday I can be that awesome.
What a story.
In the end we don't regret what we did but what we did not do.
Keep us updated on how the job progresses.
Awesome!!! That's all I can say
Great story - that moment was absolutely way too perfect to miss.
It's great that you've found somewhere that is (relatively) accepting too.
I hope that if I come out at work I can find a way as awesome as that.
I agree with everyone else, best coming out story i've read so far :D
Awesome. Just awesome
You are brave. Way to go, I think you did the right thing :)
If you don't already then you should be proud of yourself! I REALLY loved reading your coming out at work story and the courage you showed. Thanks you for sharing it with us. :) I do wonder (Maybe you know), because you stared at the person who joked about them having a transgender child, did any of them find that odd or weird or suspect something? (In other words did anyone think you really were transgender?) Hopefully when I finally come out at work it'll go as smoothly as yours did and the people treat me the right way.
That was one of the most awesome coming out stories that I've ever read! Good for you!