No need to post what department you work for or any specifics like that, but in general I'm interested in how your co-workers and supervisors have handled your transitions.  Good?  Bad?  Indifferent?  Is the federal government a good place to transition?

I'm Department of Education if that makes any difference.

I'm hoping to get a Government job at the Air Force Base near where I live as a nursing assistant, I applied a few days ago. I was talking to my doctor at the clinic and he thinks I have a very good chance because of Disabled Veteran's preference, and I spent 5 years in the Army doing the same job. I plan I going to my interview as Katherine even though my resume says William. I'm kind of planning to not even bring up transitioning and just start any new job presenting female. I'll be interested to hear more about this topic as well.

Quote from: KittyKat on December 11, 2014, 07:59:42 PM
I'm hoping to get a Government job at the Air Force Base near where I live as a nursing assistant, I applied a few days ago. I was talking to my doctor at the clinic and he thinks I have a very good chance because of Disabled Veteran's preference, and I spent 5 years in the Army doing the same job. I plan I going to my interview as Katherine even though my resume says William. I'm kind of planning to not even bring up transitioning and just start any new job presenting female. I'll be interested to hear more about this topic as well.

Well as a prospective federal employee you are protected against discrimination because of your gender identity or gender presentation.

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/diversity-and-inclusion/reference-materials/gender-identity-guidance/

Nurse at the VA here. Gender identity is protected here so I'm feeling pretty good once I do fully transition. So far one person knows about me and is very supportive and I think others are beginning to put two and two together and coming up breasts (new math). I have changed a wee bit in the seven months I've been there. 

I work for senior military staff in SoCal.  I have been on HRT for 2.5 years, but haven't announced transition plans yet.  The OPM guidance for managing federal employees in transition is very clear and supportive.  But it's still pretty scary to transition in a place that is very conservative and has people wearing stars walking around.

Nobody seems to care enough about the hair that down to the middle of my back, other than being called a hippy once in a while.  People haven't said anything to me if they noticed that my skin is a lot softer and that I have no arm hair left other than fuzz.  I do have B-C cup breasts, but I am large enough for people to think they are just from being overweight.

Freya

Quote from: Wynternight on December 11, 2014, 09:55:55 PM. . . I think others are beginning to put two and two together and coming up breasts

Cute!

Quote from: Freya on December 11, 2014, 10:22:52 PMThe OPM guidance for managing federal employees in transition is very clear and supportive.  But it's still pretty scary to transition in a place that is very conservative and has people wearing stars walking around.

Thanks, both of you.  In my experience, those working for the federal government tend to be fairly laid back when it comes to personal lives - live and let live - and it's good to hear that the places you work are sticking to the rules and making transition a non-event.  I might not have the most interesting job, but I guess transitioning while a federal employee is a bit safer and more secure than in a private company.

Following this thread! I live near DC where it's basically everyone's goal to get a government job, would love to hear more people's experiences.

My federal agency has a strong policy supporting transgender people and gender diversity.  I think you will find at least strong workplace protections at any federal agency, and at many some progressive management support.  I'm not yet out at my workplace, but I don't worry about facing discrimination when I am out. 

I'm a contractor working on an army base. I started with my company's HR department. The lady I talked to had no idea what to tell me, so she sent me up the chain. The lady I was now talking to was head of HR. She met with me and told me she's only dealt with this a handful of times, but the company was on my side. We've had a non discrimination policy since 1989 and are in the process of specifically adding transgender to it. She also told me personally that she was on my side no matter what. I then talked to the guy in charge of all of my company's employees at this facility. He too told me he's on my side. He's had a transgender neighbor and a gay brother. He won't let anyone talk down about them. I also came out around the time that President Obama signed the executive order in our favor.

I believe having 2 people in the higher up personally on my side rather than just company policy has helped. They were with me when I made my announcement to the people in this wing of the building. There were initially some concerns about the bathroom, but they got over it. I think they finally realized that yes there are doors on the toilets. I've also made an effort to be exceptionally courteous in the bathroom. Everyone seems to have accepted me now even the ones that were hesitant.

With that said, I saw on an alabama news website that another trans girl working as a contractor for my parent division was forced to use the men's room and was disrespected. She sued the government over it. She won of course. But this person works a few miles away from me and got the exact opposite results I got. I guess I got lucky and things could have happened differently.

This concerns transgender folk serving in uniform, but perhaps is some additional evidence of where federal agencies are on the issue.

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/air-force-secretary-supports-lifting-transgender-ban-1.318475

I am a federal employee but do not have plans to transition in the near future. However, transitioning at the workplace would be the least of my concerns because of the accepting nature of the federal government. No one that I am close to has transitioned, but I know of many individuals who have come out as gay. It was privilege to talk to a female contract employee about how she met her wife and how they are working together to raise their children. Recently, a coworker had married her long time friend, and there was not much discussion in the office. I am proud that the feds are taking a leadership role when it comes to workforce diversity.

Quote from: Brenda E on December 11, 2014, 07:52:07 PM
No need to post what department you work for or any specifics like that, but in general I'm interested in how your co-workers and supervisors have handled your transitions.  Good?  Bad?  Indifferent?  Is the federal government a good place to transition?

I'm Department of Education if that makes any difference.

Don't mean to divert your thread but I've always wanted to ask how protective US laws are to us regarding civil service.

In my country transitioning in civil service is quite a blessing. In the worst scenario they get you retired with full pay.