Trans in the workplace: Meet Louisa!
You have agreed to share your story on the subject of LGBTQIA+ *
In particular your experiences regarding transgender people and your integration into the team. Would you like to briefly introduce yourself and your career to date at RHI Magnesita?
I started at RHI Magnesita in 2017. Before that, I worked as a carpenter in furniture making for 6 years and wanted to do something different, so I applied. At first I was a little worried about having a sense of community in such a large company, but I was disabused of that.
People are often confused and misunderstand the lives of transgender people and what the challenges are for them. I can imagine that coming out is one of the biggest challenges for trans* people. Many still face stigma and discrimination in society. Would you like to share your story with us? When did you realize that you were born the wrong gender? What were the challenges, what were the hurdles? What hopes and worries have accompanied you?
I realized quite late that I was trans, the thought first occurred to me in the summer of 2022. There is a trans man in my circle of friends and I thought it would be easier for us if we could just swap. I really became aware that I was trans at the end of 2022/beginning of 2023 and I dealt with it and informed myself. At first I thought I was too old to transition, but most people come out when they're around 30 years old. Looking back on my teenage years, I could have noticed this earlier, but unfortunately I had no information or a role model. The first thing I did was come out to my partner and family. I asked them to address me with a new name and female pronouns so that I could feel for myself whether that felt right. Since then I have also painted my nails, which gave me and still makes me feel good. After I became more and more confident, I looked for a therapist for additional therapy to be able to start opposite-sex hormone therapy. In August 2023 I came out at work so that I could be myself, both at work and in my private life. To do this, I confided in someone from the works council who I assumed would understand and be able to
deal with it. I asked him to speak to the plant manager and my boss, where I came out first and to discuss how the rest of the workforce should find out. I came out personally in my department and we arranged a meeting with the other department heads. I asked them to tell the rest of the staff. Of course, I was worried that someone wouldn't accept me or would treat me violently, whether verbally or physically. Luckily this hasn't happened yet, but the worry about it will probably stay with me for a long time.
Are you today the same person on the outside that you have always been on the inside? Have you arrived?
I had trouble identifying myself in the mirror or in photos. The person I saw there somehow wasn't me. Things are different today, I recognize myself more and feel more myself. In general, my interests have not changed. I still enjoy working with wood and my hands.
We still have a long way to go to create an environment that is truly inclusive for trans people. What does it look like at your workplace?
Everyone in my department dealt with it very positively and understandingly. They accepted it immediately, and I didn't hear anything negative from the rest of the staff either.
From your perspective, how does RHI Magnesita deal with the issue of transidentity?
I can't say much about that. The topic of trans and non-binary has only recently arrived in the mainstream of society. I didn't know much about it myself beforehand.
How did your manager deal with it when he found out about your trans identity?
Very good and caring. He supports me as much as possible, regardless of whether there is a conflict or whether it involves appointments. That's one reason why I feel arrived.