Trans Awareness Week Called Me Out
Trans Awareness Week ended a few days ago. I’ve been struggling with what to say in support, because my courage is underperforming when it comes to standing against the violence trans people often face. I have so much to learn, so I’m quiet. And that’s not right.
In the language of my own company, I am in "Careful Skill Practice" when it comes to understanding the many ways gender is experienced. The Genderbread person graphic and tool from Genderbread.org represents the agenda for my learning. I know two people who have transitioned across gender, and they have been important mentors to me.
My challenge to you in this post? I invite you to face up to the challenges I so acutely feel myself (Much credit and thanks to you if your point of view is more deeply developed than my own). Here are some questions I’ve been asking myself and reflecting on.
Q. How do I do no harm as I grow more aware of what trans people face?
A. I can be both careful and courageous as I take responsibility to keep learning. I can show up transparently, from wherever my learning has brought me so far, and lean into humility as a leader. Maybe share something about your learning with colleagues or peers.
Q. How can I listen and speak in support, when I acutely feel the risk of misspeaking or appearing unevolved?
A. Get a grip on the risk my ego calculates in speaking up. Lend my position power to the right conversations, even when I’m acutely aware that I have so much more to learn. In that spirit, I admit that I’m only writing this blog because two members of my team pushed me to do so….wow, not so brave, Chuck.
I don’t like others seeing so clearly what I do not yet know. But some leaders have not yet done the work I have. So I, as an inclusive leader, get to publicly share my learning process. That way others who are further along will support me and caringly hold me to account, and those who have even more to learn than I do will be encouraged to speed it up.
Where are you in your process to understand the challenges trans people encounter? Trans Awareness Week, and my own team, called me out, so I would speak up and deepen my point of view. I hope this blog pushes you in the same direction.