Despite some progress, trans workers still struggle to find acceptance
At one of her first jobs after coming out as transgender, Beatrice Shumway remembers one thing: Her bosses rarely looked her in the eyes.
In her job interview, she’d disclosed that she identifies as trans and uses she/they pronouns. However, being up front about her identity didn’t dissuade her bosses from dismissing the conversation whenever she brought it up.
Shumway was dead named and misgendered throughout her time at that job. And although she had her pronouns emblazoned on pins and her hat, this stressful experience persisted. “I was told not to make a big deal out of it,” said Shumway, 27. “I was told that it was weirding customers out.” A 2021 McKinsey study found that more than half of transgender employees are not comfortable being out at work. “People who identify as transgender feel far less supported in the workplace than their cisgender colleagues do,” said the study. “They report that it’s more difficult to understand workplace culture and benefits, and harder to get promoted.
They also feel less supported by their managers.” This lack of support resulted in Shumway “always” being on the job hunt. She’d rank job opportunities based on their online presence and whether they had positive messaging during Pride month.
