You Won't Believe This.............

[janelle]

Hi All, hope you are doing fine. As many of you know I have been trying to get my company to cover my bills with insurance & to get the right to use any restroom in the plant.( have to use a single up by the office). Any ways, last Thursday I asked for a reason in writting as to why only that restroom.
I was handed a letter today & your never going to believe this. There reason is, " to avoid confusion & embarrassment to me & other employees". Lets get real here. Here is something else in the letter you may like. We are all going to have to wear hard hats so they are putting in more lockers in the changing rooms. I don't use the guys & they say until I have surgery I can not use the female one,so, for my locker they are going to put it in the restroom I use. Others use that restroom so will this not get people talking about this & maybe even bring up a bigger embarressment?????? I just don't understand them.

I am going to give this to my therapist & more important the person from the equal rights group I am working with. They already think they can get my treatment covered by insurance but was not sure about the restroom. Who's, with a statement like that from the company it could open up all kinds of doors.

Well I hope you had a nice laugh with their thinking,I did. Take care all & have a wonderful night.

Hugs,Janelle

[MJ]

i believe you. the company i worked for did the same crap to me.. next will be someone said ...you said something you did not and it will be the first of three on your work record then your out ... thats how they get rid of you..
keep records dates and times names everything you can ..it's just a matter of time sis .

[Mariah]

if you lived here, you would of been fired. your lucky that you have a job. I envy you.


Mariah

[tgirlinva]

While I sympathize with your situation, I think the employer did what was best for everybody. They could have easily made you go to the "men" bathroom, which would have created even more of an awkward situation. The fact that they know, respect your decision, and are trying to do everything possible to accommodate you is already a blessing. I would find myself lucky really. Just my opinion though.

[Steph Butterfield]

I am not laughing hun, I'm fuming on your behalf. You should just be allowed to use the ladies restroom, end of discussion.

[tgirlinva]

She should be... but if it would make other employees uncomfortable, the employer will have to take them into consideration as well. The law only requires that the employer makes REASONABLE accomodations for our friend here. Providing her with an alternative bathroom may arguably be their reasonable accomodation. Besides, I don't know for you, but I'd rather have my own bathroom rather than share it with dozens of other people, be it women or men.

[Sharon]

She should be... but if it would make other employees uncomfortable, the employer will have to take them into consideration as well.

What happens if one or more employees are uncomfortable with a Jew, African American or any other segment of society, sharing the same facilities? Would this also be defensible? Of course not!

Segregation is wrong, and there are no ifs, and, or buts that are acceptable in the 21st Century.

I have a lot more that I could write, but I'll leave it at that.

[janelle]

HI, I understand I am very lucky & I am thankful but this reason just doesn't make sense to me. Am I not entitled to be free & go where I want & if others have a problem then why can't they be made to take the long walk?? I talked with one woman & she heard others whinning about it, she said for pete sake, you come in here with lesbians so whats the difference?? We have doors on all the stalls. Let her be herself.
When she told me that I about died but isn't she correct?? We all just want to be oursevles, do our bathroom need or needs & get out. We are not freaks looking for a cheap thrill, we are women. Yes I know some are afraid that other none transgendered people may try to get in. My answer is simple, like me get a letter from your therapist stating that this is where you need to be & the problem should be over.
I guess I would not be so worked up but it seems when this started it was a temp. thing, & being told my care( appointments) would be covered & than what seem to be a change of mind & this piddly excuse. If they had something concrete like, sorry but none of the stalls have doors,then ok. & the restroom I use others do as well so how do I get to my locker if need be when some one else is in there. I wait & knowing the company I will be in trouble for not being at my work area.

Well I guess I blew off enough steam. I hope I answered any questions that some of you raised or commented on. I will leave you with this thought, why can't people accept change & be happy for those who find themselves. If nothing is being done to them, there should be no trouble.

Thanks all.
Hugs, Janelle

[tgirlinva]

What happens if one or more employees are uncomfortable with a Jew, African American or any other segment of society, sharing the same facilities? Would this also be defensible? Of course not!

Segregation is wrong, and there are no ifs, and, or buts that are acceptable in the 21st Century.

I have a lot more that I could write, but I'll leave it at that.

Segregation IS wrong! But discriminating against race is ILLEGAL. Until Congress or any legislature actually realizes that we are entitled to the same rights as gays, straights, or bis, then your company doesn't have to do anything but the bare minimum to protect itself from lawsuits. There, that's what's different!

[Sharon]

Segregation IS wrong! But discriminating against race is ILLEGAL. Until Congress or any legislature actually realizes that we are entitled to the same rights as gays, straights, or bis, then your company doesn't have to do anything but the bare minimum to protect itself from lawsuits. There, that's what's different!


Fair enough, but I was speaking from a moral viewpoint and not necessarily a legal one.

It wasn't all that long ago that Jim Crow laws were thriving in many sections of this country -- legally, they were upheld until the 60's, but they were morally indefensible. That would never have changed, or at least it would have taken many more years, excepting for those who were brave enough to take a public stand against such practices.

Unless we, meaning transsexuals and others who believe in the constitutional rights of every law abiding citizen, stand up and demand the right for respect and equality, nothing wll ever change. If we stand back and hope that someone else will fight for us, then we have nothing. Bathrooms are but a minor issue in the whole scope of things, but they are significant in so many ways as well.

[Sally2005]

I think you have to live with it and just keep personal records of what happens. Objecting too loudly builds momentum in the wrong direction. You want them to see you as the model employee who excels despite the situation you are in. I think this is true for any employee.

[janelle]

You know this is all kind of funny, being the model worker & all. My boss has come up to me 3 times this month & thanked me for the great job I have been doing. In fact the 1 time he stated I was the only 1 getting any work out. I can not tell you how happy that made me because I know they have been watching & hoping to find a reason to get rid of me. I do everything I can as not to give them any ammo.
They have even gone as far as putting me in the bay that makes our biggest units for 7 weeks now. Other employee's are saying that's not fair, but I keep plucking away at it.
Of coarse with the "pat on the back" as we call it, others are saying I am kissing up,yah right. Never have & never will. If I can't do my job I don't belong there. Well I just wanted to up date abit & say thank you to all of you lovely people.

Hugs N kisses,
Janelle

[Sally2005]

Great to here good news. Keep records of the positive conversations too! They count for a lot to document how you were a good employee if it ever comes to nogotiating for a good settlement should it ever come to that.

[janelle]

Thanks Sally, will do.

Janelle

[Kimberley]

One of the girls in our support group has the same problem. She works in an auto assembly plant so you can read the mentality. They segregated her facilities for her own safety.

Management have had the diversity training, understand it and the process and have decided to support her. So she has a segregated facility. It isnt the best or most desireable option but it is the safe one.

Until Human Rights Codes contain Gender Identity in their wording we are at the mercy of Sexual Discrimination. Rulings on complaints have gone both ways in this area because of narrow interpretations of law.

Here, some of Canada's biggest and best employers including the military, banks and national accounting firms have extremely strong and enforced diversity policy that includes gender. They will even support it to include SRS because they know that GD doesnt diminish the ability to perform and transition ensures long term loyalty. They see it as a small cost in the bigger picture.

Too bad other companies dont see their employees as assets instead of disposable liabilities. We would all be better off for it.

:hugs:
Kimberley

[janelle]

AMAN to that. We all at work state that all we are is a number & the company does not give 2 hoots in H--L about us. I guess that is why I am trying to get them to treat every one as a person. It is sad to see so many place just thinking your a number & can be replace with the click of their fingers. When I first started there, people (company ) bent over backwards to help with whatever was going on,no more. Believe it or not they gave me time off from work when we were trying to adopt my son, & they even asked question, or if they could help. Guess to many people now are for, me, myself,& I, what a shame. Reminds me of a few small towns nearby where everyone still helps everyone. Why can't it be that way for us all.

Sorry about getting worked up, but people should have other people as there first choice to keep right with instead of stabbing them in the back. Again sorry for rambling on. May you all have a wonderful Sunday.

Hugs N kisses,
Janelle

[Avito]

""You Won't Believe This.............""

I believe they have done the best they can, for the time being. Therefore it is a compromise. The understanding is, that you can only use the ladies, if you are fully dress as a lady and you are working and living all day as a lady.

It will take months for others to get use to you crossing the gender freehold and it will make it easier for them to come to turns with the new situation, as will not be treading on their territory.

[janelle]

I hear what your saying but I have been dressing, Living & working as a woman for 2 years now, so what's the hold up??

I'll wait for the right time.

Hugs,
Janelle

[Avito]

""I'll wait for the right time.""

It is very hard to get a complete understanding of the story, as I have only heard one side of it! However if what you say is true, and I do not doubt it, it appears that it is your Manager creating the problem.

If you are going to work as female, all the time, and I mean in real time, then everyone else would know and understand by now.

Therefore someone is not doing something right!

[janelle]

AMAN TO THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is exactly my point. They seem to do just enough so they can claim they are trying to work this out. Its just like the insurance part, our contract reads that they CAN ADD coverage, but they choose not too. I have talked with a couple of lawyers who are looking into that deeper but they believe I am being discrimanated against because they could add the coverage. They also, like you, feel they are hiding something that they will not let me use any restroom after 2 years living full time.

I keep very close records of what happens & just waiting to see if my legal people can come up with a postive ending for all this. Hell sometime a girl just has to fight tooth a nail( scratch their eyes out, LOL) & my Dr.'s say that is one strong thing in my favor & more than likely has helpped me make such a great transition. I don't know but I am doing what I can for us as a whole & praying some day no matter what anybody says, we will what the world conciders a normal person. For me & I hope all of you, I believe each & everyone one of us is a very beautiful person & it is just narrow minded people that are the freaks.

Guess I spouted off enough for the night but you can see I am a fighter.
Love you all for your help here & being behind me. Yes we are special people. We are people that truly know the meaning of loving thy neighbor.
Good night girls.

Hugs N kisses,
Janelle

[Avito]

If it is your Manager creating the problems, then the Boss should know unless it is the same person. If you say as you are turning up to work full time in female mode, then the Manager should be sacked! As you will create many problems going in the mens, dress as a woman, which is not allowed.

Therefore something needs to be done quickly and other organizations for complaints should be made now.