How do you know that you’re the gender that you are?
Is it the shape of your body? Your physical traits? Or maybe it’s tied to what society expects from you in terms of what you wear or how you act? At first glance, many of us assume these things define gender.
For aspiring allies to the trans community, there are often those persistent, sticky thoughts that can get in the way of showing up fully. These are the thoughts that don’t seem to let go, even when we know we want to be supportive. Sometimes, it’s frustration with others’ inaction: “cis people should be doing more to support trans people.” Other times, it’s a nervous hesitation, feeling like “trans people need to tell us how to act and what to say.” And then there’s the big one that so many people struggle with: “What if I make a mistake and hurt someone?”
Read MoreAs we mark the 25th anniversary of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) in 2024, it is crucial to recognize the ongoing challenges faced by the trans community today. This year alone, at least 30 transgender people have been murdered in the United States due to transphobic violence. At the same time, a record-breaking number of anti-trans bills have been introduced - of which 45 have been passed and 125 are still pending. However, this is not only confined to the US; the rights and safety of trans people are under threat worldwide. In the face of increasing transphobic violence and discrimination, TDOR serves as a critical reminder that we cannot let those who have been killed be forgotten, and how we must continue to raise awareness and advocate for justice, equality, and safety for all trans people.
Read MoreVisuals tell stories that words often cannot. They can help people feel seen, understood, and valued. For organizations, choosing gender-inclusive visuals means showing everyone that they belong, no matter how they look or what their identity is. Here is how to create visuals that celebrate the beautiful diversity of gender.
Read MoreCreating a genuinely inclusive workplace means going beyond the basics. It is like building a wheelchair ramp at the front door but forgetting to make sure that the rest of the building is wheelchair-friendly; while the intention is good, it does not create a truly accessible space. Similarly, adding more gender options without considering the overall experience can feel like just scratching the surface.
Read MoreOne of the significant challenges for organizations committed to improving inclusivity is navigating the period between when necessary changes are being planned and when they are implemented. Whether you are sorting out the need for all-gender washrooms or updating information systems to differentiate between legal and chosen names, these changes take time (sometimes years), making this stage difficult to manage.
So, what can frontline staff do when concerns are raised by a transgender client about their needs not being met, but the organization has yet to implement these necessary structural changes? These three simple steps can really help!
Read MoreIn today's rapidly evolving society, inclusivity and diversity are vital for fostering an environment that supports all individuals. This includes recognizing and addressing the unique healthcare needs of transgender and non-binary employees. While extended health care benefits play a crucial role in ensuring employee wellbeing, they may not always be inclusive or fully cater to the specific needs of transgender and non-binary individuals. In this blog post, we will explore ways to make extended health care benefits more inclusive, providing practical steps employers can take to support their transgender and non-binary workforce.
Read MoreIn recent years, there has been an increasing recognition of the diversity of gender identities, and a growing need to create more inclusive environments in various aspects of society, including organizations. Forms are one such aspect that may seem insignificant, but they can have a substantial impact on the experiences of trans and non-binary people. In this blog post, we will discuss five ways that organizations can create more inclusive forms, with specific considerations for the collection and use of titles, first names, and pronouns.
Read MoreWe are frequently asked how to convert men's and women's to all-gender, multi-stall washrooms. This is not simply a matter of changing signage. This undertaking requires careful plan and thoughtful communications to be successful. Check out our newly-published blog to learn more and download our washroom inventory template.
Read MoreHolding down a job can be stressful at times for all of us. Imagine the additional weight of trying to hide or suppress a core aspect of who you are—your gender identity— for fear of being excluded or ignored by those you work with. Or imagine coming out as transgender at your workplace and encountering misgendering, jokes, and complete lack of support.
Read MoreIn spite of the pandemic’s challenges, we’ve made significant progress this year supporting our clients with transgender learning and practice initiatives.
Read MoreIn the work that TransFocus undertakes with companies, we function as gender detectives investigating the mystery of why transgender people face challenges, or missing from company life. What we encounter in our explorations and discoveries is that there are often age-old practices that are deeply ingrained and unquestioned that complicate trans participation in or access to companies.
Read MoreAs a consultant practicing in the area of transgender inclusion, the clients that reach out to me embody this aspiration to be more inclusive of transgender employees and customers. At the same time, they share with me their worries about saying, or doing, the wrong thing and inadvertently offending the people they wish to support. The question I hear most often among employers: “What do we need to know that we don’t know?”
Read MoreGender demographic data is foundational to many surveys and forms serving both customers and employees. It is an important and powerful tool to drive employee engagement and business outcomes. Yet, often there are only two response options of female and male.
Read MoreNow that we understand some of the complexities, how do we undertake this sort of deliberation to surface clear and decisive direction on gender data collection? I recommend a systems approach to develop gender data solutions that are specific to your organization’s unique needs and software capabilities. This effort can be scaled to your organization’s size and needs using the following five steps:
Read More
