Gender Virtualization at the 2009 Out & Equal Summit

This morning I presented my workshop - Gender Virtualization - A Discussion on Values, Principles, and Policies for the Transgender Community - at the 2009 Out & Equal Workplace Summit in Orlando. We had a great discussion among the HR/Diversity professionals of Fortune 500 companies, ERG leaders, and members of the transgender community about improving policies for transgender support.

One main issue about gender transitions at the workplace is always about restroom usage. It was great to see more companies now adopting the policy of usage according to gender identity and expression, vs. segregation by biological gender which is difficult to enforce without discrimination, breach of privacy, or disrespecting the individual.

One statistic reported that only 3% of marriages survive when one spouse goes through a gender transition. It's very rough on the spouse and family. Key to surviving is having a deep common understanding and communication between the spouses, and respecting each other for the person inside, not just the physical partner.

My workshop presentation will be posted at the Summit website shortly.

Another Restroom for Transgender People

A couple days ago, another news article appeared describing how the University of Manchester in England has renamed their restrooms from "Men" and "Women" to a more practical label - "toilets with urinals" and "toilets."

Although not quite elegant, this is another effort to address appropriate usage of restrooms for men, women, or transgendered people. Let the user decide.

Earlier this year another article appeared describing a Thailand secondary school designating a bathroom specifically for transgender people, labeling it the "transvestite toilet." This label in Thailand actually does not have a strong stigma as it does in the U.S., as transgender people in Thailand are quite common.

The bathroom issue still remains to be a large mental issue for most people - both traditional men and women and for transgender people. For transgender individuals going through a formal transition plan in a company with anti-discrimination policies on gender identity and/or gender expression, typically the bathroom usage policy guides the transitioning individual to use the appropriate restroom matching his/her new gender identity post-transition, to help the transition be successful and to help the individual be accepted in the newly assumed identity.

More examples of facilities usage by transgender people in company transition plans is well explained by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss, an expert on Transgender issues who addresses the topic in her blog, website, and book, Transgender Workplace Diversity: Policy Tools, Training Issues and Communication Strategies for HR and Legal Professionals.

2008 Out and Equal Workplace Summit

Still new to blogging here, so I haven't gotten into the habit of blogging immediately yet....

A couple weeks ago I attended the 2008 Out and Equal Workplace Summit in Austin, TX, and taught my workshop on Gender Virtualization to the conference audience of the LGBT community and Fortune 500 HR and Diversity professionals. The corporate professionals attend to study the latest LGBT issues and try to improve corporate policies and benefits to make a safer and more productive working environment for all of us.

Transgender was a popular topic at the Summit this year. My Gender Virtualization topic also seemed to resonate with the Transgender community quite well, as there does seem to be a very large population of MtF transgender people who are unable or not ready to undergo a complete transition to the opposite gender. Those remaining "in the middle" may still consider themselves transgender and may need some guidance and support to better understand themselves and to stay productive in their personal and professional lives.

I also found that once these individual discover themselves, as with most other LGBT members, a large burden is removed, the person is much happier, and we get a much more pleasant and productive person to be with in our personal and professional circles.

Gender Virtualization

Yesterday I gave a presentation to the GLBT community at Intel of my current topic - Gender Virtualization - New perspectives and Frameworks on Crossdressing and Gender Identity - a new, upcoming, work-in-progress book. The basic hypothesis is that a transgender male can successfully live in a female identity in work and social environments without the need for surgical reassignment. Not intended to be the same as a Transsexual scenario, but the experience may be very similar. I am developing this topic further and plan to have this book published later this year.

Restaurant / Club - AsiaSF

News today about one of my favorite restaurant / clubs in San Francisco, AsiaSF, is opening a second location in Hollywood this fall. This club features gender illusionists who not only serve customers, but also perform on the catwalk and get up close to the clientele to discuss and de-mystify some of the common misperceptions about transgendered people.

This club not only has great atmosphere and extremely gorgeous and talented staff, but surprisingly sophisticated cuisine and drinks too. A very comfortable and cheerful atmosphere, this club is a great place to go to be entertained by the ultimate in beauty, and especially if you have an open mind willing to be expanded even further.

If anyone is in the SF area and would like some company to check out AsiaSF, let me know and I'll be glad to take you.

Here's a good recent news article:

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3577/context/archive

Transgender Rights Run Into Bathroom Politics
Run Date: 04/28/08
By Shanelle MatthewsWeNews correspondent
A county ordinance in Maryland that protects transgender rights is facing a public referendum challenge in November. One transgender advocate says it looks like a test case for national opposition to the antidiscrimination push.

This article brings transgender cases more into the open, and discusses what may be considered appropriate public restroom use.
I think the concern for safety is valid. But if people are using restrooms appropriately, does it matter what body parts are under the clothes, or inside the stalls? How does one really know, or should people really know?