Trans Awareness Week: Interview With Emma Palethorpe
Emma Palethorpe works as a Programme Manager for St James’s Place Wealth Management, delivering, amongst other things, the company’s Inclusion and Diversity Programme. She shares with us her views on how St. James’s Place has supported her journey and she gives advice on how organisations and allies can to be more trans-inclusive.
How was your experience transitioning? Did you get the support you expected from the business?
I transitioned later in life, in my early 50s, so it was tough as I already had so much established for myself - a career, friendships, relationships and children. I’ve been able to keep most of that but sadly not all. However, St. James’s Place was incredibly supportive in the run-up to my transition at work – we had ‘Project Emma’ established to make sure everything ran smoothly for me and to give us documentation that would be used when another employee transitioned. We also now have a transgender policy.
How would you describe the situation of trans employees in the UK compared to other countries? What do you think are the next steps for further inclusion?
I feel very lucky that I work for such an understanding employer. I know that it’s not the same all over the country and many trans individuals have been forced out of their jobs for coming out, otherwise have faced discrimination. I am thankful that being transgender is a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010, but I think more could be done to make legal gender transition easier. I believe this includes educating employers and colleagues on trans awareness and what discrimination could look like in the workplace.
What is your advice for organisations to be (more) trans inclusive?
To echo what has been said in support of Black Lives Matter campaigns, it’s not enough to be silent on trans inclusivity. Organisations must be demonstrably pro-trans inclusion. So that means having a transgender policy, considering where trans employees might feel excluded and putting things right.
What is your advice for allies to be (more) trans inclusive?
I think it’s the same as for all aspects of diversity – seek to understand. There’s a lot of information available online so use that rather than approach trans individuals to provide explanations or answer potentially embarrassing questions. I would love it if everyone did one simple thing – challenge anti-trans sentiment wherever they see, particularly online, and let people know that it’s not ok to be transphobic.
Do you think the T is visible enough in the LGBTQ+ community?
I do but I worry about the anti-trans lobby - those who view it as a product of the patriarchy or anti-feminist. Being trans is no more of a choice than being lesbian or gay and whilst most of the LGBTQ+ community is supportive, it saddens me that some consider its inclusion a topic for debate and that introduces divisiveness, where we should be standing shoulder to shoulder.
Why is Trans Awareness Week important to you?
At work, it gives me an opportunity to talk about trans lives. To generate awareness of what it’s like to be trans, the issues we face and the things we must think about that perhaps others don’t even have to think about.
For further information about the St. James’s Place Academy, please visit our website: www.sjp.co.uk/academy
