The other night I sat at a table of GG's who are senior leaders in an organization that publicly embraces diversity. The wine was flowing and, interestingly enough, somewhere along the way the conversation turned to a former employee who presented as female. I listened with great interest. In a not so flattering and certainly not accepting way they went on about how he "always acted like a girl." The banter continued regarding how he would "dress up" and come to work, and about a particular after hours function where he came in skirt and "all stuffed up top like he's got what they got . . ." Again, the conversation was one of disdain and disgust, and certainly not in keeping with genuine respect for diversity. These are people that can and do make decisions about a person fitness for employment.
Disappointing as it was, I share this as an example of the many times we see what is only a veneer of acceptance. Behind the curtain, my experience is that little of it is genuine. Because of this, I salute those here who brave enough to wade into the world dressed and confident. Though I am not among you, know that I cheer from the sidelines.