It's official

[Cheyenne Skye]

Checked the court website earlier and I am now legally named Dana. Still waiting on the paperwork so I can change my license and stuff though. Otherwise I'm rather giddy.

Also posted my coming out letter at work yesterday. I'm off today. So when I go in tomorrow morning, it will all be official. Perfect timing, huh.

[StephanieC]

Congratulations Dana! I am so happy for you!

-stephani

[PretzelGirl]

Very nice! Congratulations Dana!

[Jorja]

Congratulations Dana! Now the real work begins.

[redwildberry7]

Congrats!

[Eryn]

It's the small milestones that make a journey. Congratulations!

[PaulaQ]

Congratulations - I look forward to that so much myself! It's huge for you hon!

[sandra-leigh]

Excellent! Perfect timing indeed.

[Starling]

Great news, Cheyenne.

:) Lallie

[Angela Campbell]

Small milestones? For me it was huge.

[Bunny Girl Zoe]

Congratulations.

[GabbiSophia]

Congrads on such a great moment!

[Rachel Smith]

Congrats. You will find changing your name was the easy part. Just when you think you have done everything you will get a piece of mail and say ooooppppps I forgot about that.

[Karen7cd]

Can I ask what state are you in and roughly what did it cost?

[Cheyenne Skye]

@ Karen7cd: I'm in Maryland. I'm not sure how much it would have cost. I went through a pro bono attorney. She first petitioned the court to waive the filing and posting fees because my finances suck so bad. The court agreed to waive the fees so it ended up costing nothing for me.

Update:
I've worked two days since the posting of my coming out letter. Thing is, the letter was posted to our online scheduling system. I thought that way everyone would see it since they would probably need to go on the site to know when they work. Apparently I was wrong. It seemed as if no one had seen either my post or my manger's follow up post. Not a single person used my new name, pronouns or even asked any questions about my transition. I realize that since I have worked there longer than 95% of the employees (and management), that they are all very much in the habit of addressing me by my male name. To that I am willing to give everyone time to adjust. It just seemed like no one knew or if they knew, they sure didn't care. But then again, I didn't go home one day and come in the next wearing a skirt and heels either. I wear a uniform and that has not changed. It's a dirty job, so there is no point in make up. It's just been a slow progression over the last three years as I've changed gradually. First, shaving head to toe, then growing my hair and going blonde, and of course the changes of hormones over a year and a half. So my appearance didn't drastically change overnight. Everything seems to be the status quo. But my biggest concern is that if a female coworker is not aware of the change in my name and gender status, and finds me in the ladies room (which management has already told me is fine), it could start an incident with them. I'm not one to "rock the boat" so to speak. Any suggestions how to handle my situation? (Transitioning on the job seems to be a rare thing for my company and no one seems to know the best way to do it. Strange that this is a Fortune 1000 company that added transsexual benefits to hourly employee insurance two years ago.)

[Starling]

It seems like a glitch, Cheyenne. I wouldn't assume the worst about your co-workers.

:) Lallie

[Barbara Ella]

Congratulations Dana. Kind of shows how many actually read the company electronic updates...lol Give it some time. Often times unless face to face meetings are arranged, it can be slow for any information to spread.....that is unless you don't want something to be known, then.......

Hugs,
Barbara