Recent news has brought increased attention to transgender people in society and in the workplace. With this attention, I have been getting questions about how best to support a colleague who is going through transition.
Transitioning is both a public and a private process. For the person going through the transition, they will have spent years making this decision and going public with that choice can be a scary time. They may have questions that range from "How will I be received by my colleagues?" to the practical "Which bathroom can I use?"
Here are some tips for easing the transition:
- It is important that you respect a person’s privacy and how much of their private life and decision to transition they want to share with others. If someone shares personal information with you, be careful about who you share this with. Respect a person’s privacy and keep their trust.
- When transgender men (born female but identify as male) and transgender women (born male but identify as female) begin to live openly in their preferred gender, the use of pronouns can become confusing. When speaking with someone who is transgender, listen to hear what pronouns they are using. If you are unsure as to which pronoun to use, it is okay to ask for clarity: “What pronouns do you prefer (She/Her or He/Him)?”
- Respect and use the name that they now use.
- Use open-ended questions such as "Do you have a partner" instead of "Are you married?"
- Restrooms: The issue of which restroom to use often becomes a problem for transgender women and men. Using a "Male/Female" sign on a single use restroom is one solution; another is the use of an "All Gender Restroom" sign.
Find out more with these transgender resources:
GLAAD: Transgender FAQ: GLAAD.org/transgender/transfaq
PFLAG: Straight for Equality Transgender page StraightForEquality.org/trans
Human Rights Campaign: HRC.org/resources/category/transgender
Susan’s Place: Provides news for the transgender community and also member chats and information: Susans.org
Caring for Transgender Patients
Creating a welcoming and supportive healthcare environment for all LGBT patients is a critical part of patient-centered care. Getting to know your patients, including aspects of their sexual and gender identity, behavior, and desires is key to providing quality care. With the transgender community becoming more visible, some questions may arise. When people decide to make their transition public and live openly, it can be a very challenging time for them and others. Without a doubt, this is the time when providers, family, and friends need to be supportive.
We have put together some tips for providing care for transgender patients.
- When transgender men (born female but identify as male) and transgender women (born male but identify as female) begin to live openly in their preferred gender, the use of pronouns can become confusing. When speaking with someone who is transgender listen to hear what pronouns they are using. If you are unsure as to which pronoun to use, it is okay to ask for clarity: "What pronouns do you prefer (She/Her or He/Him)?"
- Patient records may need to be updated with the name that they now use.
- Ask open-ended questions that don't make unwarranted assumptions when talking with any patient, such as:
- Say "Do you have a partner?" instead of "Are you married?
- Say "What is your spouse’s name?" not "What your husband (or wife’s) name?"
- Say "Are you in a relationship?" instead of "Do you have boyfriend/girlfriend?"
- Say "Do you have a partner?" instead of "Are you married?
- Restrooms: The issue of which restroom to use often becomes a problem for transgender women and men. Using a "Male/Female" sign on a single use restroom is one solution, another is the use of an "All Gender Restroom" sign.
- Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
- Sexual orientation and gender identity are not the same. Find out more about these and other terms at: http://www.HRC.org/resources/entry/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions