I transitioned 30 years ago. Back then, even in Central Europe, this still meant that your professional life basically came to an end. All of a sudden, no one wanted to employ you anymore. Thus, many transgender individuals often had only one option remaining open to them: prostitution.
I was lucky and this never happened to me. But my professional life has been an exhausting obstacle course and only in the last few years have I finally found a working environment where I feel truly valued as exactly who I am.
But this is Central Europe. And especially Switzerland where I live is a bubble of safety in many ways.
Let’s not forget: In many countries, many regions, coming out is still an option with often dire consequences. All over the world, people like me still lose their jobs… and some even their lives… simply because they are who they are.
Let’s work towards a world where we take each other at our word when we state who we are. A world, where we simply respect and embrace each other’s identity with no debates.
Because someone’s identity is not up for debate. Every single one of us wonderfully diverse human beings is the only competent authority when it comes to our own, inherent identity.
Happy Pride month everyone! Let’s be each other’s allies, every moment of every day.