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Lawyering while trans:
Clients immediately point out that I’m “not a man” when they hear the sound of my voice. I never stated I was a man, but they feel the need to call out their misplaced assumption.
Clients immediately point out that I’m “not a man” when they hear the sound of my voice. I never stated I was a man, but they feel the need to call out their misplaced assumption.
Lawyering while trans:
Yesterday a client took this further and noted I used the term “abogado” to refer to myself. I use this because Spanish is a gendered language and I feel more comfortable with masculine terms. This client accused me of lying.
Yesterday a client took this further and noted I used the term “abogado” to refer to myself. I use this because Spanish is a gendered language and I feel more comfortable with masculine terms. This client accused me of lying.
Lawyering while trans:
When I said I’m transgender and asked him not to make assumptions about my gender, he said I was being very rude and fired me as his attorney. He further accused me of making it a big deal and causing division within LGBTQ communities.
When I said I’m transgender and asked him not to make assumptions about my gender, he said I was being very rude and fired me as his attorney. He further accused me of making it a big deal and causing division within LGBTQ communities.
Lawyering while trans:
One time a client called me señora 20+ times on a 1-hour call even though I corrected him each time. I asked him to just not use an honorific, but he didn’t stop misgendering me. At least he apologized at the end...
One time a client called me señora 20+ times on a 1-hour call even though I corrected him each time. I asked him to just not use an honorific, but he didn’t stop misgendering me. At least he apologized at the end...
Lawyering while trans:
Sometimes clients openly laugh when I introduce myself in the waiting room or say hello on the phone. The sound of my voice so contradicts their gendered assumptions about me that they laugh. Out of comedy or discomfort, I’m not sure.
Sometimes clients openly laugh when I introduce myself in the waiting room or say hello on the phone. The sound of my voice so contradicts their gendered assumptions about me that they laugh. Out of comedy or discomfort, I’m not sure.
Lawyering while trans:
My trans clients, who I feel most comfortable with, hardly ever comment on my gender/presentation. It comes up naturally when we commiserate about the difficulty of obtaining name/gender marker changes, or surgeries.
My trans clients, who I feel most comfortable with, hardly ever comment on my gender/presentation. It comes up naturally when we commiserate about the difficulty of obtaining name/gender marker changes, or surgeries.
Lawyering while trans:
Cisgender gay men have been the most offended by my being and the most hurtful in their responses. Some seem to have assumed I would be like them? Others feel the need to distances themselves from me. I am always the other.
Cisgender gay men have been the most offended by my being and the most hurtful in their responses. Some seem to have assumed I would be like them? Others feel the need to distances themselves from me. I am always the other.
Lawyering while trans:
As painful as these experiences have been, I am deeply aware that my work would be even harder if I didn’t work with LGBTQ clients, or if I were transfeminine and/or not white. I shudder to think of the further intersectional horrors I would experience.
As painful as these experiences have been, I am deeply aware that my work would be even harder if I didn’t work with LGBTQ clients, or if I were transfeminine and/or not white. I shudder to think of the further intersectional horrors I would experience.
