#TransFAQs: Interviewing While #Trans* Recently, I was asked whether my trans* status had hurt my chances of employment or had caused me problems on the job. Do they know? one young woman asked me, referring to my employers. What do they think of it? My answer: They probably do. I am very lucky to work in higher education, an industry where a high value is placed on diversity and tolerance. Many universities and colleges have comprehensive nondiscrimination policies, even when such policies are not in place at the state level, and often they specifically encourage minority candidates to apply. For this reason, I feel no need to hide my identity on job applications. As a public speaker, Im already out online - a quick Google search will make my identity clear to anyone who cares to know. I also list my speaking work, including the titles of my presentations, on my CV (the higher ed version of a resume). My personal policy is that I dont specifically mention my trans* identity, but I also dont hide it. Any search committee that reads my full application should be able to guess that I am transgender. However, most trans* job seekers dont have this luxury. There is no nationwide employment nondiscrimination law that protects transgender people, and many states dont protect gender identity, either. Here in Pennsylvania, gay couples can get married, but LGBT people can still be fired based on their identities, with no legal recourse. Some progress is being made. Just yesterday, a transgender employee won a discrimination case against the Department of the Army (more here: washingtonpost/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/10/23/transgender-federal-employee-wins-historic-discrimination-case/ ). This is great news, but the law that allowed her to bring suit simply doesnt exist in most parts of the US. We need clear nondiscrimination legislation at the federal level for all LGBTQ people.
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 13:15:19 +0000
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