Coming Out at Work
Apr. 27th, 2009 04:35 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
grrips.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
transHi everyone. I could use a bit of advice for coming out at work.
I've gone through a bit of the process already, that is telling my manager and a few of my co-workers that you could call my friends. So far everyone is welcoming and receptive. I work in a retail environment, if that makes a difference.
What I'm concerned with is how and when to come out to the rest of my co-workers. I'll be starting T late in the summer, so it's going to have to be soon, or my body will come out for me.
I'm wondering what the best method for going about this would be. I work with a very mixed bunch, and I have to admit I am pretty nervous about this. I think it would be helpful to hear lots of different opinions from people who may have known others who have come out at work or who have done so themselves so I can make this as painless as possible.
A few of my questions are: Should I get everyone together and tell them in person, or write a letter that everyone can read and think over? I'm leaning toward letter, so that any initial reactions from people can be thought over in their own time. What should I say in the letter, if I do write it? Would it be best to give a trans-101 and explain what exactly I'm going through and that this is not a choice I'm making, or should I just have the letter be short and to the point?
After coming out, when the inevitable pronoun bungles pop up, has anyone found a method of correction that works best?
Any advice, related to my questions or not, would be appreciated.
I've gone through a bit of the process already, that is telling my manager and a few of my co-workers that you could call my friends. So far everyone is welcoming and receptive. I work in a retail environment, if that makes a difference.
What I'm concerned with is how and when to come out to the rest of my co-workers. I'll be starting T late in the summer, so it's going to have to be soon, or my body will come out for me.
I'm wondering what the best method for going about this would be. I work with a very mixed bunch, and I have to admit I am pretty nervous about this. I think it would be helpful to hear lots of different opinions from people who may have known others who have come out at work or who have done so themselves so I can make this as painless as possible.
A few of my questions are: Should I get everyone together and tell them in person, or write a letter that everyone can read and think over? I'm leaning toward letter, so that any initial reactions from people can be thought over in their own time. What should I say in the letter, if I do write it? Would it be best to give a trans-101 and explain what exactly I'm going through and that this is not a choice I'm making, or should I just have the letter be short and to the point?
After coming out, when the inevitable pronoun bungles pop up, has anyone found a method of correction that works best?
Any advice, related to my questions or not, would be appreciated.