Hundreds of the top employers in our country don’t think so (IBM, Xerox, Apple, Starbucks, universities, city and county governments, to name just a few). Thanks to education, activism, and the medical profession the reality is that many employers are now supporting transgender workers in ways never seen before. They do this because it makes business sense to retain talented and very loyal employees. They have effectively integrated transgender employees into their workforces by developing trans-friendly policies, insurance coverage providing for trans-health related services including surgeries, and have begun working hard to retain their talented employees and managers. Speaking of policies, I differ from the author on a small but important point: Most employers realize that requiring transgender employees to use specific bathrooms is not inclusion, so their employees use the bathroom appropriate to their expressed gender.

I’m even more pleased to have been a part of it.

The article starts on p. 22 of the .pdf.

TLDEF brought the case, which has now been reported in The New York Times.

So here’s how you tell this is discrimination: if a man who had lost his penis in an accident had this job, no one would have fired him for being penis-less. If a man who had hypospadias & had to pee sitting down had this job, likewise. If a man who had a penis that required a catheter for him to pee had this job, he wouldn’t have been fired.

THUS: El’Jai Devoureau was fired for being trans. As a culture, we still haven’t worked out how wholly incorrect this “genitals at birth determine gender for a lifetime” idea is.

The good news is that we are now hiring someone – maybe you – who is looking to be a part of an amazing team of mission-driven, wonderful people. As a small organization the communications staff person will be a key part of our team and involved in strategic discussions. The ideal candidate will be a communications person who is a go-getter with their own ideas, a burning passion, and collaborative spirit. You’ll fit in nicely if you take this work very seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously. Juggling skills are optional.

Here’s the announcement. Please share it with interested people.

Job Description
As NCTE’s Communications staff person you will be involved in all aspects of the organization’s publications, and media relations, as well as web, email, and telephonic communications. This person will provide the information and tools that educate our members, allies, policymakers and the general public and that then motivate and mobilize our members and allies to take action in pursuit of our common goals. NCTE will consider applicants within a range of experience levels and will tailor the job to fit the right person. An experienced Communications expert will play a major leadership role in crafting messages and setting strategy. This position provides potential for growth with the organization.

Responsibilities

• Webmaster & Social Media ManagerMaintain a website that provides a portal for communication between NCTE, its members, allies, the media and lawmakers. Manage the website to support NCTE mission and projects, and contribute to the organization’s professional brand. Manage effective use of electronic communications such as email action alerts, organizational blog, Facebook, Twitter, and electronic newsletters and updates.
• Media RelationsDevelop, cultivate and manage relationships with national media outlets to promote NCTE initiatives. Respond to media requests including television, radio stations, newspapers and blogs. Update and maintain media contacts database. Write, edit, proof read, format and distribute press materials including media advisories, new releases, and press statements from NCTE staff. Represent NCTE as needed through interviews with newspapers, radio, and television.
• Writing and EditingProduce high quality written materials such as manuals, resource guides, organizational newsletters, action alerts, membership emails, press releases, and statements for the media. Work with allied organizations to produce manuals and resource guides collaboratively. Edit the writing of other NCTE staff to ensure high quality external communications.
• Graphic Design & Layoutbuild the professional image of the organization by creating and using a consistent design scheme for all external communications and supporting materials. Provide graphic design for items such as letterhead, business cards, envelopes, publications, website, electronic communications, and collateral such as t-shirts, buttons, and stickers.

Skills & Experience
• Solid experience in advocacy communications, public relations, journalism, electronic communications or related jobs.
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office, graphic design and website programs.
• In-depth experience with website design and maintenance, as well as online advocacy tools and blogs.
• Excellent writing skills, including the ability to take complex issues and communicate them to the general public.
• Graphic design skills preferred for in-house production.
• Collaborative spirit and the ability to work well within a team of fun-loving, hard-working professionals.
• Commitment to full social justice and understanding of issues affecting transgender people.

Salary and Benefits
Salary range for the Communications Manager is $35,000 – $60,000, depending upon candidate’s experience and skills. We offer, a robust benefits package that includes fully-paid dental, vision and health insurance, transit benefits, a flexible health spending account, and an IRA in addition to federal holidays and ten paid vacation days in first year.

Application & Timeline
We are committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of our community. We strongly encourage people of color to apply.

Target date for this position to begin is March 10, 2011, but will remain open until filled. Interviews will be given on a rolling basis.

Send résumé and letter of interest to:
Stephanie White, Managing Director
1325 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Email: NCTE@TransEquality.org
NO CALLS, PLEASE

“This is going to make a real difference in the lives of transgender state workers and their families,” said G­unner Scott, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, and a leading partner in the Transgender Equal Rights Coalition. “No one should have to work in fear that they could lose their job simply because of who they are.”

Yay, Gunner Scott! Thanks to all your work, and to all of MTPC’s work!

Power to her.

When you read stuff like this, you have to wonder: do they just think they’re untouchable? Or do they not understand what’s offensive about saying stuff like this? Honestly, I don’t know.

Are you or a friend looking for work? Do you only have a part-time or temporary job? Are you afraid of coming out at work and would like to have a job where you don’t have to worry every day about being fired? Are you being harassed at work and wish you had a better job? If so, this important action is for you!!

Because we are in the final push to get ENDA passed in the House of Representatives, we are calling on transpeople to go look for work-at your member of Congress’ office. We need you to demonstrate to Congress that we need jobs and we are determined to get them. Whether you are a carpenter or a physicist, a politician or a factory worker, ask them for a job and for your rights!

We’ve included a sample cover letter to send to your Congressional office that calls on your member of Congress to support your job search by supporting ENDA. Personalize the cover letter as you see fit, print out a copy of your résumé, and go down to your Representative’s office that is closest to your home and hand it in.

Here are some tips:

• You can find out who your member of Congress is and where their offices are located at http://www.house.gov.
• You can find help on how to write a résumé and other job search tips at:
  • Out & Equal’s CareerLink
  • Out for Work (for LGBT students)
  • Pride at Work (AFL-CIO)
• Congress is a formal white-collar institution, so put on the best business clothes that you have (for example, a suit, pantsuit or blouse and skirt) so you’ll be taken seriously as a Congressional job applicant
• Print out your cover letter and résumé neatly
• If you absolutely can’t travel to your Representative’s district office, fax or e-mail your information.

Take your letter to your Representative’s office whether or not they support ENDA-the purpose of this action is to demonstrate the need for jobs for transgender and other LGBT people. And, you might get work as well! We hope so.

Please also send a copy to NCTE and we will deliver the resumes and this important message to the White House and your state’s Senators, asking for their active support in putting transgender people back to work.

We need your help NOW to reach every transperson who is unemployed or underemployed and ask them to take action. Will you please help us bring this message home to Congress?

We need people in each and every Congressional district in the country to demonstrate the urgency of ENDA for transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

With a trans  unemployment rate twice the national average, we need Congress to act now.

And if you have a job, support those in our community who are out of work by calling your member of Congress right now and urging them to support ENDA, HR 3017.

Citing court records, the AP reports that Cullinan prefers to wear loose-fitting clothes such as men’s button-down shirts and slacks. She has been mistaken for a man and referred to as “tomboyish,” the story says. Cullinan, meanwhile, said Lewis lacked the ”Midwestern girl look” and was heard saying that Heartland staff should be pretty, especially for women working at the front desk, the AP story says, citing court records.

I hope she wins. & Honestly, I hope Cullinan loses her job for making such a dumb-ass decision.

(h/t to Courtney)

The key findings are:

1. Survey respondents reported twice the unemployment rate of the population at large.
2. 97% of respondents reported harassment on the job.
3. 47% reported an adverse job situation (firing, lack of raise/promotion, not hired).
4. 15% of transgender people lived on $10k a year or less.

I expect my usual skeptics to be surprised by these stats, and to want to know more about how the survey worked & who responded. It was done by NCTE and The Task Force, and included participants from all 50 states.