'I Don't Think You'd Be A Good Fit': Experiences Of Transgender Employment Discrimination

http://dcist.com/2015/11/transgender_discrimination.php

DCIST/by Rachel Kurzius in News   on Nov 9, 2015 1:20 pm

""I don't think you'd be a good fit for the organization."

"The position has already been filled."

Or, just plain silence.

This is what transgender people often hear when looking for work in D.C.

It is illegal to discriminate against people on the basis of "sexual orientation, gender identity or expression" in D.C., but it still happens all the time."

I recently applied for a new position. I sent them a resume and cover letter by email and literally received a response in 15 minutes! I really wanted the job but was concerned. I have reason to believe that I lost my previous job in that industry when I came out as trans and have had bad experiences with other interviews when it became obvious. I was unemployed for 8 months before I took a job at Walmart out of desperation.

This new company seemed anxious, but I had to know before I committed to come in for an interview the next day. I said to the company's recruiter, "I'm openly transgender. Is that going to be an issue?" She asked me to hold, then came back and said it absolutely would not. When I came in the next day I spoke to her first and then the human resources director. He wondered why I even mentioned it. I told him what I just told you. He said it should never be a problem, but I shouldn't make it the focus of the next interview. I didn't even discuss it with the person I would be working for. She apologized that she couldn't offer me the position right then, but she had other interviews scheduled.

I may still not get the job. Someone who's just a little better fit could come along, but at least I know that I'll get a fair shake. As this article says, that's not something we can count on. The behavior this article describes has been reported to me by every minority person I've ever discussed it with. It's so very hard to prove.

I know the feeling. I haven't had a job in a while now because of exactly this. The last interview I had went perfectly and I was more than highly qualified for the position. Unfortunately, they hired someone "more qualified" for the position instead. It may be illegal, but until we can actually prove it, nothing can be done about it.

I wonder if passability has anything to do with the problem.  Or passability and looks.  Judging from my own experiences it seems being passable and having a pretty face goes a long way.  Of course I have a good job so I haven't been out job hunting in a while but so far I've been treated well.  People seem to like me.  So I'm curious as to weather people are reacting to physical appearance or purely to the fact that someone is transgender.  The fact that human beings are very visually oriented I suspect that most of the negative reactions may be physical appearance.  After all most people don't even understand what transgender really means.

This will continue to be a problem until people are better educated about who we are and why we do what we do. Right now we're counting on the media and a few celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner and Janet Mock to do that job. When we as a whole community take that task on, people we begin to be more understand and less inclined to prejudice. Until then, discrimination will remain a harsh reality.

Amy, I was let go from my previous job six weeks into HRT. I was still presenting male. If I'm right about why I was let go there is no chance that being passible, let alone pretty (look at my avatar) had anything to do with it

Quote from: Dee Marshall on November 10, 2015, 08:56:31 AM
Amy, I was let go from my previous job six weeks into HRT. I was still presenting male. If I'm right about why I was let go there is no chance that being passible, let alone pretty (look at my avatar) had anything to do with it

Oh I'm sorry I certainly wasn't suggesting anything personal toward you.  I was just speculating in general.  Sometimes I don't think before I open my big mouth.

I didn't take it personally. I just provided a data point counter to your hypothesis. It's certainly possible that passing privilege has an effect on job retention,but I would think that, the better you pass,the less chance of being released. In my case I had made few active steps toward transition, so I don't think they could have feared my presentation unless they were anticipation my eventual results.

This isn't all-encompassing, but it may be relevant here. At least in the DC area, there is some confirmed bias. There still isn't a solution for it, however.

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/11/04/sting-reveals-anti-trans-job-bias/