For transgender folks in the LGBT community, the term ‘transitioning’ holds a special meaning. More than just a surgical process of aligning one’s biological gender with one’s identified gender, it is a profoundly socio-emotional process of integrating into society and fully coming to terms with oneself. For the brave few who find that it is their calling to be more than just a ‘normal’ man or woman, they come out. Danielle Piergallini, who holds a senior position at American Airlines is one of them.
Coming out is, of course, more than just about oneself. Piergallini didn’t just come out to her MBA class for herself. She came out to make a statement, and for better or worse, pave the way for many more to live more authentically in the old boys club of the elite business community. Coming out is a self-sacrifice, not for one's self but those who would come after you. The article itself rightly puts it when it said that business schools are a “microcosm of corporate America”. What changes in school could potentially change society. It’s definitely heartening to know the overwhelmingly positive response Piergallini received from her classmates - people who would one day rule corporate America, and to some extent the world.
The article avoids idealistic optimism, noting that openly lesbian and gay senior executives are few and far between. Even many of those who were out in school learn to hide their sexuality once they enter the ‘real’ corporate world. For transgender folks who are a minority within a minority, what are the chances of acceptance? The article itself admits that even in LGBT groups, it’s predominantly white (gay) male dominant. This is compounded by the fact that transgender folks have a particularly unique problem - for many, they DO see themselves as ‘normal’ men and women. There is a pointlessness in coming out, which further explains their absence within the LGBT movement I think. I do think this is changing of course, and lesbian and gay folks will need to work harder to form this political family of choice.
In Singapore, this is hardly even an issue - the idea of being openly gay or lesbian (let alone transgender) is but a distant dream. When Lawrence Wee recently launched his case against workplace discrimination against his sexuality as a gay man, it was unfortunate that the case didn’t quite gain traction. I think a large part of it had to do with the fact that most gay and lesbians in Singapore weren’t ready for the idea. However enlightened an organization is, and how well the workplace protects LGBT folks against discrimination, gay and lesbian Singaporeans still need to face the daily prejudice (intentionally or otherwise) of simply being who they are.
But of course I’m assuming too much. No one said that the attainment of lesbian and gay rights must precede equality for transgender folks. To assume that is to reinforce a sexual hierarchy within the LGBT community which plays into unhealthy power politics that leads to further problems down the road. In Singapore, there have been a few names that have stood up in ways that gays and lesbians never had, e.g. Leona Lo, ex-HCI humanities scholar. More recently Christopher Khor came out publicly as a FTM. He’s now putting together a video titled ‘Some Assembly Required” to document the transitioning process in a positive way. I think this certainly challenges my initial assumptions about the LGBT community.
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| Photo credit: New York Times |
The article avoids idealistic optimism, noting that openly lesbian and gay senior executives are few and far between. Even many of those who were out in school learn to hide their sexuality once they enter the ‘real’ corporate world. For transgender folks who are a minority within a minority, what are the chances of acceptance? The article itself admits that even in LGBT groups, it’s predominantly white (gay) male dominant. This is compounded by the fact that transgender folks have a particularly unique problem - for many, they DO see themselves as ‘normal’ men and women. There is a pointlessness in coming out, which further explains their absence within the LGBT movement I think. I do think this is changing of course, and lesbian and gay folks will need to work harder to form this political family of choice.
In Singapore, this is hardly even an issue - the idea of being openly gay or lesbian (let alone transgender) is but a distant dream. When Lawrence Wee recently launched his case against workplace discrimination against his sexuality as a gay man, it was unfortunate that the case didn’t quite gain traction. I think a large part of it had to do with the fact that most gay and lesbians in Singapore weren’t ready for the idea. However enlightened an organization is, and how well the workplace protects LGBT folks against discrimination, gay and lesbian Singaporeans still need to face the daily prejudice (intentionally or otherwise) of simply being who they are.
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| Christopher Khor, who's putting together a documentary titled "Some Assembly Required" |
But of course I’m assuming too much. No one said that the attainment of lesbian and gay rights must precede equality for transgender folks. To assume that is to reinforce a sexual hierarchy within the LGBT community which plays into unhealthy power politics that leads to further problems down the road. In Singapore, there have been a few names that have stood up in ways that gays and lesbians never had, e.g. Leona Lo, ex-HCI humanities scholar. More recently Christopher Khor came out publicly as a FTM. He’s now putting together a video titled ‘Some Assembly Required” to document the transitioning process in a positive way. I think this certainly challenges my initial assumptions about the LGBT community.
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