Considering HR as a Career: Is It Truly Welcoming for Transgender Individuals?

Hello! I am a 35-year-old transgender woman looking to go back to college and get a degree. Since being transgender in our society is still not totally accepted, job discrimination is prevalent in the trans community. Rather than rest on my laurels and rely on the job I have with only a high school diploma, I am considering getting a degree to assist me in finding another job.

That's where you lovely people come in!

Is the HR field an LGBT-friendly one?

I have been thinking about HR as a career choice based not only on my personality but also because it seems to me that the department most familiar with anti-discrimination laws and, in theory at least, staffed with empathetic people, would be the most receptive to hiring a trans woman.

Does anyone have any insight or firsthand experience with this? I am trying to ask around and do my homework before I commit to spending a lot of money on a degree that, in the end, may prove to be less than ideal.

Thank you to anyone who can shed some light on their experiences!

Dear Chlo Chlo, you have written about your career aspirations and your position within a marginalized segment of society. Your question is whether a profession in HR is friendly towards the LGBT community. A quick answer is that HR is as friendly or unfriendly as many other management functions. However, much depends on the country to which you belong. Are you from the US or India? If the former, there is a degree of a liberal social environment. In contrast, India is very conservative, and people may not like to mix with those whose gender is anything other than the two fixed genders. In fact, many may not know the full form of LGBT. Unfortunately, people from this community are often referred to with a single-word offensive term.

The LGBT community does not have legal sanction in India. The Delhi High Court has ruled that Article 377 of the Constitution has no place in the 21st century and recommended the central government to scrap it. However, the central government is hesitating to do so, considering the potential social backlash. The government is sitting on the court ruling and maintaining the status quo.

Regardless of being LGBT or otherwise, the desire to grow in your career is commendable. Now, concerning choosing to grow in a particular field, you have not provided details about the nature of your industry, the type of work you do, your strengths, etc. Career growth is important and can come from various fields, not just HR. While the HR profession is dynamic, it also comes with inherent challenges that apply to everyone and are not gender-specific. Therefore, my recommendation is to build on your past career and pursue a course related to your current profession. For example, if you work in a hospital, you may consider a Diploma in Hospital Administration. If you work in a general store, you may opt for a certificate course in stores, warehousing, logistics, etc.

Considering you are in the middle of your career, would it be feasible for you to pursue a regular education course? Is your financial situation conducive to that? Would you prefer a correspondence course or a regular course? These questions are relevant for all types of courses, whether in HR or elsewhere. Given the potential social discrimination you might face, instead of HR, you may consider stepping into the finance or purchasing department. Employees in these departments are generally more isolated, leading to less interaction with others and potentially less discrimination. If you are a graduate, you might also consider pursuing a degree in law. Working in a law firm could be a safer option.

Overall, the way you have written your post shows that you have good written communication skills. Even after doing an MBA, few members' posts are egregious. In contrast, your drafting skills seem better. Yes, some training may be required, but you have a foundation on which you can build. Try to capitalize on your strengths!

All the best!

Dinesh Divekar

Thank you for taking the time to respond! I live in the United States, specifically in California. Gender identity is a protected class in California per the state's interpretation of Title IX of the Constitution. California is quite specific that discrimination regarding gender identity is against the law, and if there is proof of discrimination, the state will gladly sue any company that violates the law. So in that regard, I am protected as far as the state is concerned. I, of course, realize that most discrimination is never presented as discrimination but rather is attributed to other factors.

I currently work in the transportation industry, which, while not the most conservative of industries, can still be narrow in its view of LGBT people. I have been in this field for 13 years and have been a working professional for 16 years. The last 13 specifically have been in a supervisory/managerial role, with the unique situation where I report directly to both a director of the company and the COO. I have been an "unofficial" member of the IT department during the 13 years I have been with my current company, which means that I have handled a majority of IT-related issues for our department, only calling IT when it is too far beyond my skill set.

That is mostly why I think my combination of work experience, along with my friendly nature and desire to help people, would lend itself well to a career in the HR field. I am hesitant to step into any financial role as, in my experience with the local culture, it is a very male-dominated culture. This could just be my limited experience showing, but based on interactions I have had both through my job and privately, this seems to be the case. While working in HR frequently puts you in contact with all employees, I am not worried about their reaction. Most people are wise enough to know that harassing an HR employee is generally a good way to lose their job. I am more concerned about the people that I would work with and hire me within the department itself.

Dear Chlo Chlo, as you are from the USA, I will not be able to provide comments on the culture over there. My views would be India-centric when it comes to social order or societal prejudices.

Career Planning

For career planning, for the time being, set aside your gender. If you have worked in the transportation industry, then you should pursue a course that is suitable for the transportation industry. Additionally, you have mentioned that you report to the Director as well as the COO. Why not ask these individuals about how to develop your career or what type of course to pursue? Either of them might be able to provide insights on which university is better and which course holds practical value.

Entering the HR Field

If you wish to enter the HR field, please speak to the HR professionals in your company as well as HRs from the transportation industry to gather feedback. Even if you pursue a course in HR, the most suitable industry for you is the transportation industry. Please note that you may work in operations, HR, or any other department, but ultimately, the transportation industry will facilitate your growth.

All the best!

Dinesh Divekar

Dear Chlo Chlo, it is understood from your post that you are a transgender woman working for over 15 years in California at a supervisory/managerial level in the transport industry and that you have career growth aspirations. At the same time, you rightfully have apprehensions about the acceptance of your LGBT gender orientation for a career in HR.

In India, your acceptance will be fraught with immense difficulties, as society still holds orthodox views regarding your gender orientation. Therefore, it would be prudent at this stage to seek career progression opportunities in LGBT-friendly countries rather than in India.

Regards,
Vinayak Nagarkar
HR Consultant