Frustrating relative lack of LGBT NPCs in this game

[Melichoir]

Nice resource, the link doesn't actually work BTW. As to my situation, I lost my job as a Home Care worker because I started to transition, however, my former employer said it was a Voluntary Quit, I fought them in court and won, but in the end, I never got my Job back and all I got was Unemployment out of it. That was 10 years ago. The hardest part of this was the company has close ties with other Home Care companies, and they basically Black Balled me so I could never work as a Home Care Worker again in Los Angeles. Sure I could try and go back to my pre-college profession of Motorcycle Mechanics, but what are the chances a 50y.o. Transgender Woman who doesn't "pass" getting hired by a Harley-Davidson Shop. I'll wait. The laws only help you if you can afford the fight, and there is nothing you can do to use the Law to get a Job. Sure if I had a boatload of cash, I could sue everyone who didn't hire me in 2010 in all the Home Care Companies, what would that do? Nothing. They could just say any number of excuses and win. My fight with the first company taught me, I was able to win and turn the voluntary quit to being fired, but they just said there were "disciplinary issues & Clothing Issues". (none on record BTW) That was code for "they started estrogen and wore women's clothing".

Fixed the link.

Second, you pretty much again have a lawsuit on hand if theyre discriminating against you cause your trans and you know it. And, again being socal here and knowing whats up, I am skeptical you were kept out of the industry cause youre trans. You had 1 bad employer (which Im willing to grant) but the idea that theyre so connected that the entirety of SoCal Home Care industry black balled you specifically cause they all went with "Well screw this person cause theyre trans!" Particularly since the FEHA was expanded in 2003 to include Gender Identity among other things. I know the industry isnt a million strong in California, but its upwards of 13k-ish workers at the least as of 2017 from what the stats say, with a bulk of it located in SoCal area. Given the size of SoCal itself, I am still skeptical that one company or a single employer had enough pull to make sure you never got a job anywhere else. Something here isnt adding up in your story which is why Im skeptical.

Also, going back to Harley to be a mechanic but you assume people wont hire you, again, cause youre a 50 year old trans person? Ill grant that there will likely be some bigots in the mix that you unfortunately would have to deal with, and of course you shouldnt have to, but again, the idea the 'whole industry' is saying nah to you cause your trans? Based on how you phrased what you said, it sounds like you made an assumption and didnt even try. So whos gonna hire you? I dont know, but neither do you cause you didnt try to apply it seems. You cant make assumptions about things and say thats the way it is when you never even put yourself out there. At least with your experience in home care, as skeptical as I am about some of the details, seems like you did put yourself out there for that.

Look. Im not gonna sit here and suggest youve never faced discrimination. Im well aware that there are plenty of a-holes in the world whod put you down for simply being different. However, Im reluctant to give credit to your story because it seems to hallmark perfect almost - you were attacked for being different, took it to court and one, and the evil employer black balled you from an entire industry for being trans as retaliation.

[Gothicshark]

{snip}

Well in 2010, the industry was quite small in the San Fernando Valley, and the local Harley shops, and Living Support companies which said they were hiring said they had filled the position when I came to fill out applications back then. It was rather odd since there is never enough Living Support Workers in the Valley, and just happens the three companies other than JNCS were not hiring when I filled out applications. So you tell me if it's odd that companies who said they were hiring said they were full when I applied in 2010. Sure I gave up trying to find new work by 2012, by then I got my 100% Service-connected rating with the VA pushed through. So I won't have to work again and get a decent income. But from 2010 to 2012 it was difficult only with Unemployment. And not being able to find a job, when I applied everywhere, in the two professions I'm actually trained for.

[Veis_Alveare]

Well in 2010, the industry was quite small in the San Fernando Valley, and the local Harley shops, and Living Support companies which said they were hiring said they had filled the position when I came to fill out applications back then. It was rather odd since there is never enough Living Support Workers in the Valley, and just happens the three companies other than JNCS were not hiring when I filled out applications. So you tell me if it's odd that companies who said they were hiring said they were full when I applied in 2010. Sure I gave up trying to find new work by 2012, by then I got my 100% Service-connected rating with the VA pushed through. So I won't have to work again and get a decent income. But from 2010 to 2012 it was difficult only with Unemployment. And not being able to find a job, when I applied everywhere, in the two professions I'm actually trained for.

Speaking as someone who has done a ton of entry level HR work in my life all this sounds like to me was that you were being let down gently about not getting these jobs. There is more to becoming employed somewhere than just showing up and fogging a mirror.

You had two rather specialized fields that you wanted to work in which already severely limited your potential employability because you're discounting things like retail and service industry jobs in general. Retail specialty is largely female dominated at an entry level and is (and has been, in my experience) one of the friendliest options to LGBT people for a long time.

I think a very valid potential explanation to your employment troubles could simply be that you didn't have strong references. You admit as much, claiming that a past employer would even go out of their way to spread word of issues with you to their competition.

Honestly, looking at this externality it just seems like you may not have been the best employee and want to attribute actions against that to being trans rather than for actual shortcomings you may have had. Even if a company would be stupid enough (and brave enough, frankly - it's a huge financial risk) to fire someone for being trans they aren't going to then hold some sort of grudge against you big enough for them to openly badmouth you to other companies. Do you realize how over the top that sounds?

I 100% support you in your right to transition and recieve all the care you want, I would denounce anyone saying anything otherwise as would any reasonable person. Those people are bad people. The issue here is when you attribute transphobic malice to things that have so many easier (and less serious) explainations - it will invariably make people more skeptical about claims of transphobia in the future. It is quite literally the girl who cried wolf.

I'm glad at least this has a happy ending and that you're financially sound now but I do think the way some of this thinking has shaped your worldview is unfortunate. There are not awful transphobes around every corner. Most people literally don't care beyond either being more or less sexually/romantically attracted to you because of being trans.