myGwork - LGBTQ Business Community’s Post

We’re living through a critical moment in the fight to preserve rights for transgender people. A 2021 McKinsey report states that trans workers are twice as likely to be unemployed as their cisgender counterparts, and stand to make roughly 32% less in salary. Over half of the trans people surveyed expressed discomfort with being out at work, and two-thirds of trans respondents admit to concealing their identities in professional contexts outside of their offices. It’s not just about their livelihoods, though – it’s about their very lives, as trans people are also far more likely than cisgender folks to die by homicide or suicide. That’s why we’re taking some time to honor eight trans women who have built intriguing businesses and nonprofits in a variety of industries – founders who, despite the world they live in, are creating, building and thriving. Check out the list at the 🔗 in our bio. #lgbtq #trans #womenentrepreneurs #pridemonth

* Trigger Warning * Transgender Awareness Week culminates in the Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20), which was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a memorial to Rita Hester, a transgender activist who was killed in 1998. Unfortunately, violence against transgender people, especially transgender women of color, continues today. Some prefer to observe November 20 as the Transgender Day of Resilience as a way to both honor those lost, as well as recognize the power and strength inherent in all who identify as transgender. Hester was a highly visible member of the transgender community in Boston, Massachusetts, where she worked educating people on transgender issues. On Nov. 28, 1998, Rita was stabbed 20 times in her apartment. Now, more than two decades later, police still have not found Rita’s murderer(s). “Transgender Day of Remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. We are no stranger to the need to fight for our rights, and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people -- sometimes in the most brutal ways possible -- it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered and that we continue to fight for justice. According to The Human Rights Campaign, at least 25 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been killed in the United States in 2023. Worldwide, according to a new report, 320 trans and gender-diverse people were killed in 2023. The Trans Murder Monitoring report tracks murders reported in the media each year. This year’s report includes deaths between Oct 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2023. 94% of those killed were trans women or trans-feminine people. Violence or discrimination of any type against a person because of who they are is wrong and inhumane. #transweek #transawareness #transawarenessweek #trans #lgbtq #outloudnorthbay #tdor #wewillnotbesilent #wewillnotbeerased #educate #education #transrights #transrightsarehumanrights #wehaveworktodo

The purpose of our work at SAGE comes down to one powerful statement: We refuse to be invisible. This means creating room for all identities and embracing fluidity to support the entire LGBTQ communities in living authentically. With March being #BisexualHealthAwarenessMonth, I recommend checking out GLAAD’s guide on standing up against bisexual invisibility. https://lnkd.in/gGFtsgq5

When Rebekah told her mom Jamie that she was a girl at eight years old, Jamie was afraid for the future—but never because of who Rebekah was. Instead, Jamie’s fears centered around how the world would treat her beautiful daughter. Rebekah’s dad was the pastor of their local congregation, and their family lived in a house owned by the church. Jamie knew that if the church didn’t accept Rebekah, their lives would change. “We could lose all of the things, and yet, supporting her or not, there was no choice there,” Jamie remembers. Jamie never faltered in accepting her daughter. Jamie and her husband set boundaries, had informative conversations, and created a bubble of support for Rebekah that led to the church members eventually welcoming her with open arms. But even with the support their family received, the reality of anti-trans pushback was still fraught. “One of the things they teach you when you have a transgender child when they transition is to create a safe folder,” says Jamie. Inside that safe folder are official documents that attest to Rebekah’s identity and lived experience, saved for the worst-case scenario in which Jamie might be accused of abuse for letting Rebekah live as her authentic self. “Things are really bad now, quite frankly. They’re really bad…but there’s a lot of hope.” As the parent of a trans child, Jamie insists that looking fear in the face with the power of joy and hope is possible and necessary. For the last eight years, that’s what she has done for her daughter, by modeling empathy, understanding, and inclusion. “I think there’s a gift in raising a transgender child, because they teach you so much,” says Jamie. “They teach you what it really means to love the person in front of you, not for who you thought they were…but for who they are.” Both mother and daughter see the value in Jamie’s affirming parenting. .”You’ve raised me in a way that I can thrive,” says Rebekah, “So thank you.” _________ Make a gift today to support our mission of building a better and safer world for LGBTQ young people like Rebekah: https://lnkd.in/gtVVPuxD #UnconditionalLove #ProtectTransKids  #LGBTQ #TransVisibility #TheTrevorProject

As I prepare for #GenderAffirmingSurgery in Thailand, I want to take a retrospective of how I got to this point. I begin with entering the work force after graduate school. https://lnkd.in/gd6XahHu #transgender #lgbtq #GenderIdentityToday

The City of Kansas City recently sponsored the Trans Day of Remembrance as a yearly vigil to remember transgender people who lost their lives to acts of violence and suicide. The event marked the first official recognition and sponsorship of TDOR by the city. Led by Merrique Jenson, executive director of Transformations, alongside Kym Walton, Tre'Shawn Roberts, Kelly Nou and various transgender figures from across the city, this event became a landmark moment for Kansas City. Attendees read over 70 names while holding candles to honor those we have lost over the past year due to anti-transgender violence in America. The city officials also provided opening remarks stressing upon important steps that could be taken against such behavior within society and emphasized on how it is crucial that everyone deserves respect regardless of their identity or backgrounds. This is a significant event as it aims towards commemorating lives lost due to transgender violence while highlighting how we should take steps forward towards creating safer communities for everyone through legislation and policy-making. However, there are still major challenges ahead in achieving full equity in terms of human rights for trans individuals. What could businesses and organizations do to create more inclusive work environments? Do share your thoughts! #TransDayOfRemembrance #KansasCity #HumanRights #LGBTQ

Today marks two years since I had top surgery. Medically known as a bilateral mastectomy, top surgery is a common gender-affirming procedure that many Non-Binary and Transgender people have to tackle dysphoria related to their chest, usually those who were assigned female at birth (often abbreviated to AFAB). For me, top surgery was life-changing. I went from someone who spent every day hunched over, sweating in baggy hoodies and trying to avoid my reflection, to pulling my shirt off at the beach and running into the water. But it was so much more than physical changes, it was a complete mental shift. It was recognising myself for the first time in that mirror I used to avoid. It was the freedom to live my life to thrive, rather than just survive. Often when I speak about gender-affirming surgery people will say something like "That seems extreme" or "What if you regret it?". A part of me understands that if you do not experience the kind of extreme discomfort and pain that dysphoria can cause, it would be difficult to relate to someone choosing to have surgery. If that's the case for you, I am glad for you. I'm glad that you don't feel uncomfortable in your body in the way that I have. But I also ask you to respect that that isn't the case for everyone, I ask you to offer empathy and understanding, I ask you to remember that only the individual knows what is best for their journey. Questions are welcome if they are asked respectfully! 🏳️⚧️ Image description left: Max and his wife Lori-Jade Siegel, a few days after his top surgery in November 2021. Image description right: Max on the beach in Faro, Portugal, two years healed from top surgery and looking incredibly happy. P.S If you're here thinking "This isn't relevant for LinkedIn", my work is about Trans lives and LGBTQ issues, so it 100% is. If you don't like it, you don't have to look at it (or you could even do some work to figure out why it makes you so uncomfortable, but I'll leave that to you ❤️). #LGBTQ #Transgender #DEI #Gender

The murder of Nex, a non-binary teen whose life was tragically cut short, is a sobering reminder of the dangers faced by transgender and non-binary people in a world where their existence is often politicized and legislated against. Nex's death, a direct consequence of the growing hostility fueled by anti-trans laws and rhetoric, underscores the lethal impact of such policies on vulnerable individuals. For many in the LGBTQ community, Nex's story is painfully familiar. It echoes the fears and challenges that accompany the simple act of living authentically in a society that has yet to fully embrace diversity and inclusion. Growing up in fear, hiding one's true self to survive, is a common thread that binds many LGBTQ individuals' experiences. These stories highlight the urgent need for a shift toward acceptance and understanding, away from prejudice and discrimination. The wave of anti-trans legislation sweeping through various regions not only emboldens bigotry but also systematically erodes the rights and protections of transgender and non-binary people. These laws send a chilling message that their lives are valued less, intensifying the dangers they face daily. As we mourn Nex and the countless others who have suffered or lost their lives due to hate, let us also channel our grief into action. It is crucial to confront and challenge the policies and attitudes that contribute to such tragedies. Supporting organizations that fight for LGBTQ rights, educating ourselves and others, and advocating for inclusive and protective laws are steps we can all take. Let Nex's memory galvanize us to build a world where no one must live in fear because of their gender identity. A world where every individual, regardless of how they identify, is treated with dignity and respect. Our commitment to this cause honors Nex's legacy and ensures their death was not in vain. Our deepest sympathies go out to Nex's loved ones and to all who have been touched by this tragedy. Together, we can work towards a future where love and acceptance triumph over hate.

These last few weeks have taught me a lot about where we are in conversations about EDI/DEI. 1) I worked with folks who told their panelists, all of whom work in the EDI/DEI space, to diminish their voices in order not to offend their primarily white female audience. 2) In another incident, I was told by a white woman, in an effort to assert intellectual heft/authority, that *she* has a PhD. 3) And, in another, that *I* (a queer, racialized woman) should have consulted with a white, straight woman on LGBTQ representation. I'm not surprised by any of this. In all honesty, two of them made me laugh out loud because of the audacity. But what did surprise me was the way that I saw true allyship from the white women who were also part of these conversations. I am so heartened and deeply impressed by the ways that these particular women spoke up, were present, and were willing to stand by racialized women, putting their own reputations on the line. I have never personally experienced commitment to EDI/DEI like this in the workplace before (I'm speaking ONLY about my own personal experiences here). And, I want to say thank you for your allyship and support in these conversations. All this to say, for some, EDI/DEI is just for optics. It's a checkbox on a list of to-do's. It is not a matter of deep self-reflection nor a commitment to anti-racism (or any other -ism). And, for others, EDI/DEI is deeply personal and something that they have committed to in the most genuine ways, showing up even as the conversations are getting really hard. I have so much respect for these women who supported me.