I got the blessing from my direct supervisor, executive VP, and the CEO of our company today to come out as Stacy!! I am on top of the world right now!! Previously, I came out to my HR and a very close friend who is the director of operations about 3 weeks ago. My transition was meant to be slow, but I felt that these people should know about me. I felt it was important to build my allies early.

Anyway, my direct supervisor was questioning my hair length for the last month. He approached my director of operations that he was going to approach me about my hair, so I knew that things were going to start moving faster than expected. Then my HR calls me saying that he was questioning as well as a few of my customers. She asked if she could spill the beans today, and despite my plans, things were now out of my control and completely in her hands. I was in turmoil for the next hour of waiting for the response.

Everything went well!! They said that I was too valuable of a employee and they want me to continue to be a part of this company. If you knew anything about my line of work, you would understand how big this really is!! I'm just so happy right now. I have 15years with this company I really worked hard for and I really want to stay!

Congratulations.

That is great! I hope they continue to be supportive, time to celebrate!

CONGRATS!!

It is so great to hear these kinds of accomplishments here! Awesome!

Thanks Cynthia, Hikari, and Jessica!  I have friends taking me out this weekend to celebrate!  I am so proud to work for this company!

Wish you weren't so far away as I bet that will be one great celebration indeed!

OMG....Yes it will.  My local friend group is the most amazing group of friends I ever had.  They have been so fun and supportive of me since the time I came out to them a year and a half ago.   We will definitely have a blast! 

Awesome! Congratulations! Very understanding company.

Sonia

Congratulations  Always good and encouraging to hear about stuff going well 

Slight derail: Approaching you about your hair length seems a bit extreme? Especially since it doesn't look too long in your pic. Just jarred me a little, I had hair around as long as that for the last few years (for half the year anyway. Yearly hair cuts), while still trying to be male, without issue. Granted, I was at uni so it's different. But still, feels like it's encroaching onto you're personal business?

Quote from: Goldfish on June 03, 2014, 10:48:39 PM
Congratulations  Always good and encouraging to hear about stuff going well 

Slight derail: Approaching you about your hair length seems a bit extreme? Especially since it doesn't look too long in your pic. Just jarred me a little, I had hair around as long as that for the last few years (for half the year anyway. Yearly hair cuts), while still trying to be male, without issue. Granted, I was at uni so it's different. But still, feels like it's encroaching onto you're personal business?

I agree with you on this along with my HR.  It's not that long really, but my supervisor leans more toward a very conservative business appearance.  I don't think anyone else had much of an issue with it.  In fact, my HR said she could try to put it to bed for a little while, but I thought the better alternative was to just go ahead and do it.  Considering that FFS is in the near future, I would have to explain that as well along with the recovery time I'll need.  Now it just made it easier for me to go ahead with those plans as I gave them those details today as well.  I think the issue more or less was due to all the other changes I had going on.  A customer brought to his attention; hair, fingernails and a couple of other things that they noticed about me.  Ahh, the things I heard that people were saying.

UPDATE::
I have a new position at work that I will start after I train someone for my current position.  My company has offered me a less customer facing position, which I understood their reasoning.  It's easier to educate employees than our customers(think blue collar HVAC good ole boys).  I will be able to keep my salary and work remotely, if I wish.  This is a position I had actually been seeking for a long time anyway, so win!!  It will also allow me to handle some work while recovering from FFS and future surgeries.  Woohoo!! I get to work in my pj's , save gas, and get my internet paid for!

Everyone who is in the know has been treating me as a woman now, and even calling me by my name Stacy.  What I thought was humorous was my direct supervisor, who I thought wouldn't be supportive, initially approached my HR by saying," I think Tom is becoming Thomasina".  My HR was expecting a couple of months as we agreed upon, but about fell out of her chair when he said that.  This is what generated my HR to tell me now is the time to come out.  I am in absolute love with my company like never before!

I knew I took a great risk in doing this as I didn't have a strong backup plan in place.  Things could have gone really bad for me if I wasn't accepted.  I can't believe this is for real! 

Fantastic news, I'm happy for you.

That's so awesome, congratulations on acceptance AND your new position!  Sounds like you work for a pretty awesome company. 

Stories like this keep me going as I'm beyond terrified about my own coming out at work, whenever that may be....   I *know* my own employer isn't so accepting...  Well the company will probably be indifferent at best but I seriously doubt my co workers will be accepting just from conversation and hearing stories of someone else who has transitioned here.

I'm so happy for you!

Wonderful! It must be fantastic to have such acceptance and support.

I am not out at work yet and I know I can't hide much longer. I got questioned this week and I just deflected it and turned the focus to something else. My coworker with the most intuition, who doesn't know about me has said nothing, while another coworker who seems the least likely to notice was the one who questioned me. Go figure. My doctor was shocked that nobody had said anything at work until now. Frankly, I'm quite surprised as well.

I suppose the people that work with you and see you everyday are sometimes the least likely to notice changes.