Initial Contact Letter
December 21st, 2004
In the past, transsexuality (or Gender Identity Disorder (GID), as it is sometimes called) has too often been sensationalized, but fortunately we have moved into an era where the reality of these changes can be acknowledged with dignity and purpose. I am fortunate to have the benefit of the many -- in business, medicine, academia, law, engineering and virtually every other field -- who have gone before, and proved that we can be successful and productive. So while I am a little frightened, I am also energized and confident that my new life will make me a better person, a stronger ally and a more productive member of the team. Foremost, my goal is to minimize the impact of my personal change to the work environment. To this end, I will continue to conduct myself as a professional and strive to make my transition as smooth as possible for management and co-workers. I consider a successful transition (for all parties) to depend on several critical success factors:
Most people want to know what I look like as a woman; therefore I have enclosed some photographs. It's important to me to present a professional appearance, and I believe I do. Experience has shown me that I fit in well with others as a woman, and that we interact comfortably and easily. I'll have some learning to do, but I approach my new role with the support of family, friends and colleagues who will help me along the path. I have also enclosed a number of other materials that explain GID in more detail, including a brief paper that addresses common concerns and sets out the basic steps involved. Needless to say, I am more than willing to discuss how this will work at any time. This is a great personal venture for me, but I believe in people, and have already discovered depths of understanding, wisdom, humor and caring that I long feared did not exist. The experience has thus far been one of enormous growth for me, and I am committed to make this company proud of me, and proud of recognizing the diversity and strengths of its people. Thank you for supporting me. I am pledged to the utmost candor and honesty, and will be glad to answer any questions you may have regarding the material I've enclosed. Please do not disclose any of this information to anyone outside (Your Company Name) Corporate Officers and involved HR persons without my consent. Again, I appreciate your understanding and support, and look forward to working with you and your staff to ensure a smooth transition.
Sincerely
|