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Professional trans networking group celebrates first birthday in City of London
Around 200 people gathered at the office of Deloitte in High Holborn, London, last night to help Trans*formation – the professional networking group for trans employees and allies – celebrate its first birthday.
Speaking to Gay Star Business, one of Trans*formations co-chairs explained why the group was launched last year.
‘There was a need to bring together trans professionals and supportive organizations,’ said Kimberley Bird, who works for Lloyds Banking Group in IT. ‘Many large organizations are not anti-trans but they are ignorant of the what trans people need to succeed.
‘I wanted to show organizations that they can use the un-tapped potential of trans colleagues and customers. At the end of the day I wanted to make a difference for the trans community, however small that may be.’
Her sentiment was echoed by fellow co-chair Emma Cusdin, who works in HR for Thomson Reuters: ‘We felt that traditional LGBT networks tended not to focus on trans issues with typically only a few trans people attending LGBT events.
‘As a trans woman, working in the corporate world, I know that feeling of being alone so I personally got involved with trans*formation to bring trans people together so that we can have a stronger voice.’
Bird said that the response to the group’s launch had been ‘overwhelming’.
‘The varied nature of people on the trans spectrum is so encouraging including non-binary and gender fluid people; I personally have learnt so much.
‘I have been delighted to see people come to our events who have never met another trans person before but who now know it is possible to be trans and a professional.’
‘It’s wonderful to see our numbers grow and I’m absolutely delighted that we are now seeing large organizations positively wanting to engage with us,’ added Cusdin.
The event was hosted by Kate Sweeney, Deloitte consulting partner, and GLOBE, the firm’s LGBT network.
‘Deloitte is delighted to have hosted the first birthday celebrations for trans*formation,’ said Sweeney in a statement afterwards. ‘Respect is fundamental to the values of our firm and developing an increased understanding of the challenges trans people face in the workplace is an important part of creating an inclusive environment for all.’
The evening included welcoming drinks and an auditorium panel discussion with Nicholas Cresswell, Vice President, Performance & Talent Management, Thomson Reuters, and Marc Reace-Coles, Inclusion Manager (LGBT Lead), RBS.
Cresswell talked about a Transgender employee guidebook that Thomson Reuters had produced for internal use to help support trans and gender fluid staff, while Reace-Coles talked about steps RBS had taken to help trans people, such as the introduction of the Mx prefix option, and the removal of gender questions from forms that did not require such information.
This was followed by a spirited Q&A session, with members of the audience asking the panel whether they considered Caitlyn Jenner to be a positive role model and what the organization was doing to help further the cause of the non-binary and gender fluid.
There was also concern expressed about the number of workplace insurers still unwilling to cover health expenses for trans people – sometimes dismissing such claims as the result of a ‘lifestyle choice’.
Another of the group’s co-chairs, Patrick Osborne, Head of Strategic Insight & Reporting at QVC, talked about his own journey to become to a trans ally, and the importance of allies in changing corporate attitudes towards trans and non-binary individuals.
‘Challenge your own personal views and be honest,’ he advised the cisgender in the audience. ‘Find out about trans people’s experiences because there are still a lot of misconceptions; it’s important we become comfortable talking about trans issues.’
For more information about Trans*formation, check its official website and Twitter: @TFormUK
The post Professional trans networking group celebrates first birthday in City of London appeared first on Gay Star News.
David Hudson
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