When Did You First Learn About Trans and Gender-Expansive (TGX+) Folks?

Today, we’re talking about the first pillar of TGX+ Workplace Inclusion: Education.

Question for you…

When did you first learn about trans and gender-expansive (TGX+) folks? And how did you first learn about TGX+ folks?

Most of us didn’t have someone who sat us down when we were a kid to explain “This is what gender is” or “Here is what transgender means.” Rather, we learned through implicit means like media, family dynamics, school and community settings, etc.

Many of us learned stereotypes about the TGX+ community. What’s more, most of us learned that only two genders exist, and those genders had very specific roles and expectations (e.g. man = masculine, woman = feminine).

For these and other reasons, TGX+ identities feel incredibly new for most people. (Though, TGX+ individuals have existed throughout history.)

In order to understand how to be inclusive of TGX+ individuals, most folks have to reimagine the concepts of gender they were raised with and learn about the cultural norms and nuances of the TGX+ community (pronouns, transition-related dos/don’ts, etc.).

When creating cultures of inclusion within an organization, Education is a cornerstone in facilitating the belonging of TGX+ individuals.

And while most people want to be inclusive of TGX+ folks, the reality is that many don’t actually know how.

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According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey Report, nearly one-quarter (23%) of TGX+ folks report mistreatment based on their gender identity at work, and over three-quarters (77%) of TGX+ folks report taking steps to avoid mistreatment in the workplace, such as hiding or delaying their gender transition or quitting their job.

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Even those who believe themselves to be inclusive may need education in order to align their actions with their values.

Education may include:

• Providing TGX+ inclusion training

• Distributing brand-specific educational materials

• Sponsoring TGX+ awareness events

• Arranging 1:1 inclusive leadership coaching

Each of these provides an invaluable opportunity for folks within an organization to gain confidence in their knowledge about and interactions with those who are TGX+.

So ask yourself: what types of TGX+ education do you see within your organization?

For more on the importance of TGX+ education in the workplace, check out this episode of The Out Agenda where I discuss some of the most burning questions people have about TGX+ folks and the steps they can take to deepen their knowledge of the TGX+ community.

Want to learn more about the 4 Pillars of TGX+ Workplace Inclusion? Sign up for our monthly TGX+ Inclusion Roundtable for HR, DEI, and ERG leaders.