Transsexual Road Map Notes

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Finding work mid-transition

A reader notes:

I’m a 22-year-old FTM who has been transitioning for about four years now.  I’m full-time but not taking hormones, which as you might guess affects my ability to pass as male consistently.  My voice pitch is a bit uneven and my voice overall is a bit squeaky (I’m working on those things), which I think makes me seem younger and less professional than my appearance would suggest (I look mid- to late-twenties).  My facial and body hair is also sparse, naturally.  Overall I would classify my looks as pure androgyny—most men tend to think I look female, while most women think I look male.  I’d say overall that when I’m in business attire I pass about 80% of the time (conservatively).

My question is this:  How do I tell employers that I’m transsexual and in transition, or should I at all?  I have a good resume and am looking for work, but I’m concerned about how to broach the subject of my transition with prospective employers (or if I should at all).  I tend to get overly nervous and fidgety during interviews because I’m worried about how prospective employers see me and if they think that I’d be a bad fit for their company.

My state of residence considers transgendered people as a whole a protected class, which should theoretically protect me from job discrimination.  Since I’m looking for a job in web development and design with progressive companies I have faith that it will go reasonably well (what can I say, I’m an optimist haha).  I think I’m spared somewhat because I’m going to go through a staffing agency which will handle all of my insurance and paperwork that has my sex on it (application, license etc).  So to all prospective employers I’ll be seen as male before I even interview.

I’ve tried looking online, but everything I find has to do with coming out to an existing employer—which doesn’t help me at all. :D And I find it disturbing how many FTMs try to dish out work advice when they’ve been on disability for a decade, so I long ago learned not to participate in FTM boards.

My reply:

Work issues are indeed a little complicated. If you have a legal name change and a government issued ID in that name with a male designation, you might acknowledge it if it comes up in an interview but not volunteer it.

The place where things can get tricky is if they do a background check. If you have not changed federal IDs, have student loans in your old name, or have not updated your credit reports, your old name and information will probably come up. There’s also a question of references. If your school has updated your transcript and you have teachers or former employers who will give recommendations without divulging your past, you should be OK.

Another thing to consider is how public you are. If there is information online that connects you back to your old name/old life, they may find that as well.

Common concerns are insurance and litigation. They sometimes worry that you will drive up premiums or sue them for discrimination. These are generally unfounded, but it’s good to have that in the back of your mind.

Bottom line is that it’s getting to be less and less of a big deal. Some places actually see it as a plus, since our community tends to be a little smarter and more focused than most. Focus on the work in your portfolio and your performance, and you should do great.

Direct loan consolidation simplifies student loan name changes

A reader notes:

I had a few student loans, under 3 different lenders, and one lender would not change my name with a court order—I’d send them a copy of the order, they’d say they didn’t get it, I’d send a new one, wash rinse repeat.  This summer what I did was do a direct loan consolidation (which is through the US government) and they combined all the loans into one under my new name (even though one was under my old name the social security numbers matched).  It also had the added benefit of eradicating my defaulted loans, which upped my credit score and made me eligible for student financial aid again.  It also resets the grace period and under income contingent repayment, the payments will fluctuate depending on your income.  Definitely a perk!

You can see more information about it here: http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/

Changing name: student loans, credit cards, and credit reporting

A reader notes:

I have my court order and I’m just about to head to the SSA in my area to get my social security info updated.  I have a question that I haven’t found answered on your site as far as I can tell: how do I get the name changed on my credit card?  Also, I have a lot of student loans.  Do you know how I get the loans transferred to my new name?

My reply:

Changing banking information and credit cards is easy once you have a court order for name change. If you got a few official copies (they are 3 to 10 dollars each depending on where you live), go to your bank and change your accounts there. If your credit card is through another bank, contact them by phone. You may need to provide a copy of your court order in many cases and will probably have to sign a form or two. This is often best done in person after you have done your Social Security and government ID.

The same is true for your student loans. Simply contact the lender(s) and inform them of your name change. They will instruct you on next steps.

All of these institutions do this frequently for people who change their names after marriage or divorce, so it’s not a big deal. Just make sure to get all of them.

While you are at it, you should also contact the three major credit reporting agencies: Experian, TransUnion and Equifax. Two of them will purge your old name completely, which will be helpful down the road if you apply for a home or business loan.

It also appears that you may want to ask your school for a different email address. While you’re at it, make sure they will change your transcripts and diploma. It’s also a good idea to contact any professors who may be writing recommendations and confirm that you do not want them using your old name.

Related links:
* Legal name change project

FFS on a scale from 1 to 10?

A reader notes:

I’m really more concerned about passing well even after the surgery… but I’ve gotten to the point that it doesn’t devastate me to not pass as long as I do the best that I can to present as a woman.  Part of doing the best that I can is to get FFS. 

Could you give me a few words on how much difference FFS typically makes in passability?  I guess what I’m fishing for here is, if 10 is complete passibility and 0 is complete non-passiblity, do you think FFS moves people from 2’s to 8’s or is it only from 2’s to 4’s? (Obviously everyone’s different, but your opinion since you’ve been through it would be very important to me)

My reply:

Obviously, everyone’s different in terms of results. I know people who have had minimal improvement, and I also know people who had even more astonishing results than I.

Based on your scale, I’d say FFS in my case took me from a 2 to a 6 on a passing scale, with voice and electrolysis taking me up to a 9+ in total. Remember, there’s a difference between passing and looking good. I know some beautiful women who are clearly TS, and some very homely women who are unclockable.

FFS is not a magic way to pass. Change the things you feel you want to, and don’t worry about the others. Voice is probably the second most important thing if your face is within female range.

Obtaining female hormones at 16?

A reader notes:

Hi, I’m a 16 (almost 17) year old MtF transsexual, I have a question about the age limit on receiving hormones or if you require a parent’s consent to receive a prescription for hormones if you are under 18. I already have a therapist but I haven’t discussed hormone issues yet. Thanks, great site btw

My reply:

Technically, you need your parents’ permission, but some people have gotten around that. I think it’s the best way to do it. If you think it will be a problem (sounds like your parents don’t know), you should at least try to get on an androgen blocker as soon as possible. And if you have a choice, I recommend getting injectible hormones when you’re ready. I think they’re more effective.

Talk with your therapist to see what they think. Maybe they can help you decide how to handle the parent thing. If you think your doctor will be cool, you might ask them, too, but they’ll probably require parental permission. Kind of like the ultimate field trip!

See also:
* Obtaining hormones and antiandrogens as a minor: overview