As some will already know, I have been fighting one heck of a battle against unemployment. I lost my job as a lawyer for being trans* back in June 2012. I found that it was impossible for me to find other employment, at least in this part of the country, for the same reason. I've heard lots of bizarre excuses. I even had one LGBT focused employer tell me they needed someone who was more familiar than me with laws that I helped to write.
In March of last year, I received an offer for a job as a U.S. diplomat. Since then, I've been trying to get permission to actually start work. And last week, permission was granted. I start at the beginning of next month. I am fairly sure this marks the first time that the U.S. government has ever hired an openly trans* diplomat in any of its foreign affairs agencies. (There is one other one right now who came out after around ten years of service).
I plan on getting really, really quiet about trans* issues and going to ground as much as I can to protect myself. Many parts of the world are much more dangerous for trans* people than the U.S. And there are other obvious dangers as well. So I expect this marks the end of my trans* advocacy career as well. I will be turning over the reins of my current groups, Maryland Trans*Unity and Montgomery County's working group, at the end of the month.
That's bittersweet. Much of the work I've done has been among the best work of my life. And things like the meetings I've had with foreign delegations, the work on federal employee health benefits, state level lobbying, and especially the support work may never come around again. And many other things besides.
Anyway, I'm not leaving here, although you may notice that I'm not around as much because my mind has shifted its attention to getting ready. But I did want to share the news that my life is moving on. I have worked incredibly hard for this. Now my next mission is trying not to screw it up.
Angie
