Transformation Journeys Worldwide

08/13/2024

"Owning your story is the bravest thing you'll ever do."
--Brené Brown

I recently read an article that revealed how female authors, throughout history, often chose to write under male pen names, their initials or at least gender-ambiguous pseudonyms for fear of experiencing prejudice, rejection, or feeling discounted and irrelevant in a male-dominant industry. Some of these authors included Mary Ann Evans, aka George Eliot (The Mill on the Floss"); Charlotte Brontë, aka Currer Bell ("Jane Eyre"); Louisa May Alcott, aka A.M. Barnard, ("Little Women"); Pamela Linden Travers, aka P.L. Travers ("Mary Poppins"); Karen Blixen, aka Isak Dinesen ("Out of Africa")...among others.

As I pondered the incongruity that these women must have felt as a result of feeling the need to disguise...and in some cases...being strongly urged to hide their true self for fear of not being taken seriously, it was all too familiar to me. Much like them, I too had to decide if I was going to keep my true identity hidden, for fear of prejudice, and succumb to a culture that has not only suggested I remain in the shadows, but one that has actively denied my right to exist. Our culture's flagrant, systemic acts of sexism have lead to the , , , , movements...just to name a few. As these movements have gained traction and visibility, many in our culture have rallied around these calls to action as the "right thing to do" in achieving equity, equality and justice for women.

Unfortunately, my trans sisters and I do not always experience this same support. We are all too often labeled as groomers, interlopers and outcasts. Our journey to womanhood is categorized as deceitful, illegitimate and dangerous. We are often the only one like us in the room. Consequently, we have to fight to been seen and heard; we have to fight to have a seat at the table; we have to fight for equitable and affordable healthcare; we have to fight to be treated with respect and dignity; we have to fight to live! Sound familiar?!

If anyone understands me and my trans sisters' plight for acceptance and justice, it is cisgender women who have traveled THEIR journey of owning THEIR own story...understanding there's no price too high to pay for the privilege of owning one's voice. The great female author, Virginia Woolf, echoed these sentiments when she shared how much she admired those female authors who stood firm in a patriarchal society and wrote as women write, not as men write. "It is another feather, perhaps the finest, in their cap. Of all the the thousand women who wrote novels, they alone ignored the perpetual admonitions of the eternal pedagogue --- write this...think that."

As I embark on my birthday week, I am finding myself inspired by these women authors and determined to continue owning my voice and writing the ending of my story.

What does owning your story look like?

07/14/2024

05/30/2024

As organizations gear up for their PRIDE activations next month, much focus is being placed on allyship. While such programming and initiatives remain vital for the workplace, often these actions are structured as compartmentalized, one-off occurrences with little thought or planning for what's next. This is where good intentions often fall short of expected outcomes because of the current culture war dynamic.

What has been overlooked in "ally" conversations is that being an ally is messy. It often results in pushback from others...that is, if it’s done right. After all, if you're advocating for someone who has a target on their back, it stands to reason that your experience will be similar to theirs.

Consider the brands that had good intentions for the LGBTQIA+ community when they elevated trans people in their marketing, when they added Pride themed products to their inventory, or when they took a position against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Were they prepared for what came next? I dare say, they were not. They were thinking, as many of us do, this is the right thing to do and everyone will agree with us. Unfortunately, everyone did not agree. And because these organizations were not prepared to handle the pushback they received, their response was equally devastating to their brand as it further disenfranchised the community they were attempting to support...and they're still recovering today.

Here's the lesson...allyship IS having good intentions and advancing your organization's Pride activations next month and beyond. It's ALSO proactively preparing for the pushback you will likely experience in response to your position on LGBTQIA+ matters.

So how can an organization prepare for this dynamic?

⇒ Tie your company values to everything you do. Typically, a company's values are not a respecter of persons. They apply to ALL employees. Understand how your values are representative of ALL your employees.
⇒ Have a comprehensive EEO Policy and DEI Statement that includes protections for ALL your employees. As it relates to your LGBTQIA+ employees, ensure sexual orientation, gender identity and gender
expression references are included.
⇒ Proactively prepare your solidarity messaging, with the help of relevant stakeholders (Comms, PRIDE E/BRGs, DEI, HR, etc.), stating your "why" and "how" your position is warranted.
⇒ Provide a space for courageous conversations to occur...from ALL perspectives...ensuring every voice is heard. When handled correctly, this can be a valuable educational and trust building moment.
⇒ Stand your ground. Taking action and then waffling is more dangerous than taking a definitive position as the action then appears to be more performative than genuine. Every employee wants to know their employer has their back, regardless of pushback.

Remember, allyship is a journey...not a destination. Organizations who embrace this don't have to fear the backlash they may receive when advocating for their employees because they've done the work to set themselves up for success.

Happy Pride!! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

04/19/2024

We hope that you will join our CEO for this timely PRIDE fireside chat. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

The named plaintiff in the landmark 2020 SCOTUS case shares his story and insights into the continuing struggle for LGBTQ+ workplace equity.

03/04/2024

In celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility, Transformation Journeys Worldwide invites you to join us on March 27th, 12m EDT, as Linda Tatro Herzer and I facilitate a deep dive discussion on "Supporting Families of Trans & Nonbinary Youth During Global Controversy."

To learn more and to register yourself, or a group, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/supporting-families-of-trans-and-nonbinary-youth-during-global-controversy-registration-853099953927?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Understand the current controversies impacting trans and nonbinary youth and how you can support their families during these tough times.

05/11/2023

In preparation for next week's AAPI Heritage Month panel conversation, The AAPI Trans & Gender Expansive Experience, our CEO had the opportunity to sit down with one of our panelists, Feroza Syed, and ask her why she's so passionate about being a part of this conversation. Click the image below to hear her response.

Seats are filling up so if you'd like to learn more and register yourself or a group from your organization, click here, https://lnkd.in/g6eqsHas



https://lnkd.in/gfxS-Gvy

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-aapi-trans-and-gender-expansive-experience-a-panel-conversation-registration-615125927207