I’m training to be an amazon driver lmfao, but I’m actually sorta looking forward to it cause it means I don’t have to spend all day interfacing with customers. I never actually stated my gender identity anywhere but I still pretty much look like a dude and everyone just defaulted to he/him for me and I don’t bother correcting them.
Thing is, even though we’re in Los Angeles, about as Progressive as you can get, and I literally did a module about inclusion and respecting transgender coworkers as part of my training, I’m an at will employee and therefore all the assurances that it would be illegal to fire me because of protected status means nothing because my contract explicitly says I can be fired at any time for any or no reason.
The other thing is though, I’m a big softy and tomorrow and Thursday I’m gonna be riding along with someone all day so they could show me how it works, and in general all the people I’ve met with like the dispatchers have been super friendly and nice, and dammit I just like Making Friends rather than just doing the bare minimum socially but staying otherwise distant. Also it’s just a bit sad every time I get misgendered
So yeah. Should I follow the cynical instincts instilled in me by this site and stay closeted?
Are you out to close friends or family? Is there someone at work you feel particularly confident would support you in coming out to other coworkers? Coming out isn't necessarily an all or nothing thing, and you're gonna run into bigots eventually. It's good to have some meatspace support when that happens. The only reason I ask is because sometimes and in some situations, things can get a lot harder when you have the courage to live authentically.
Coming out, both times I did it, has been one of the best decisions I've ever made. That doesn't mean it isn't without hardship. Sometimes you lose people in your life or people treat you unjustly because of who you are. Sometimes you thought those people were your friends or allies. It's important to realize when that happens that they weren't, and that the entire dynamic that changed was premised on your willingness to play along with their incorrect notions of your identity. In those cases, it's very comforting to have other people, especially other queer folks, who can understand and support you.
It's really exciting that you're beginning to feel comfortable enough to be yourself around the people in your life, and I hope you get all the love and support you deserve for that. However you decide to proceed, I'd looking forward to hearing how things went. :trans-heart: :trans-heart: :trans-heart: