Trans-Inclusivity: Embracing Equality in the Workplace and Beyond

Can you please introduce yourself and your role within your organization

Hello, my name is Quebei Mitchell (pronounced Queue_Bee) and my pronouns are They/Them. I am a non-binary trans-femme individual working for CGI as a Technical Problem Analyst. My work requires me to deeply analyse large scale IT issues to determine why they happened and how to proactively prevent them from reoccurring. I also contribute to our company’s LGBTQ+ network and help in writing articles for our quarterly newsletter.

Do you think the T is visible enough in the LGBTQ+ community? 

Personally, I am an advocate of normalising and not spotlighting. I know some trans people who are very visible and others who are happy just being a part of something greater. But to shine a light on a person or a group of people can have a very polarising effect, which has both good and bad points. I’ve seen plenty of good representation of the transgender community at PRIDE events that I have been to, so I feel that there is certainly enough visibility, but visibility alone isn’t enough to address the issues the community faces on a daily basis. 

Please share your coming our story.

My story started after a cosplay experience at a local comic and games convention. I was invited to attend a second learn-to-play RPG event where I was pretty much immersed in a heavily LGBTQ+ populated space and found myself lacking the vocabulary and knowledge to navigate it safely and comfortably. This spawned a flurry of online research and a quick realisation that I was non-binary. It took about 2 weeks to confirm for myself and after that it was something I just couldn’t keep a secret. So, I told my close friends, my parents, and then the following Monday I came out at work. To say I haven’t faced a challenge would be lying, but I also feel like my journey has been very smooth and I feel so very lucky that’s the case. 

What is your advice for allies to be (more) trans inclusive? 

If you are already an ally, then well done and thank you! Trans as a term covers such a huge potential of gender identities, and for any given individual their identity can change. So, my best advice on how to be even more inclusive is to allow and accept if a trans person you know changes their presentation. It’s also important to note that I don’t mean unconditionally, some changes can be unhealthy, and it’s good to have respectful and intelligent conversations to ensure that people aren’t at risk.

What is your advice for organizations to be (more) trans inclusive?

Treat trans people in the manner you would treat everyone else. Inclusivity means operating a business that everyone is welcome in. It might mean allowing them to use bathrooms of their choice, it might mean setting aside separate spaces for them to feel safe. Listen to your member’s and respect their needs. That all we (I) want and need.

What can we all do to push for awareness of trans human rights all year round?

Show that trans people are still people, have the same rights and should be treated with the same respect as cis people. The media is readily able to tell us stories of trans people being excluded from things, so show stories of trans people being included. That’s to say a mix of trans and cis people together and harmonising. If you are into social media, then follow some LGBTQ+ charities and support their awareness campaigns.

There is a lot of fear and distrust of trans people that gets floated around (mostly trans women in the media) and its tolerated, even though a similar story that highlights a person's race or religion would rightly be immediately protested. We shouldn’t have to stand by while this happens, and so making our complaints heard is also important.

Would you come out during a job interview? Why? Why not?

I wouldn’t “come out” during an interview, but I would go in as myself, no mask or cover. They can take me as I am or if they can’t I don’t want to work for them. No job is worth having to hide who you are. There's a world of difference between a Business formal attire and having to dress in a gendered way that against your own presentation. We all make allowances, but never to hide your gender or trans-identity.

What would you like to see next in the fight for trans rights both in and out of the workplace?

I want to see legislation improved and modernised to include all transgender people and not only those undergoing transition from Male to Female and Female to male - “transsexuals” as its currently written in the Equality Act. At my own workplace I’d want either a unisex approach or a separate space for toilet/changing facilities. No-one should have to think about where they can use a toilet, and dreading a confrontation by using what some people see as the “wrong” one just makes for high anxiety and stress when not at home.