opinion

Employer set tone accepting trans manager

My thanks go out to the Enquirer for its coverage of Leelah Alcorn's sad life.

It brought back memories that occurred in my professional life many years ago. I was a lifetime journalist who worked for a major conservative publisher. This happened in the 1970s, when a male employee came to work dressed as a woman and stated that henceforth he would be a woman. This person – married with children – was a longtime employee in a management position.

We worked for a family-owned company well-known for fine treatment of employees. They took immediate action. A schedule of informational meetings was set up and all workers invited, if not requested, to attend. Speakers included gynecologists, psychologists, urologists and social workers, all from major local hospitals and universities.

In the meantime, bad jokes, rumors and unsavory whispers prevailed in some parts of the building. Women in this person's department refused to use the same bathroom, but at the same time, women from another department insisted she use theirs. In addition, they invited her to join them for lunch and noon shopping.

In weeks to come, bigots, ultra-conservatives and rebels got the message: Accept the new woman in their department and appreciate her as a person and her professional skills or look for other work. Most changed their attitudes.

And 40 years later, hate letters still appear, and Leelah's life matters as much as mine – or yours.

Tish Williams, Loveland