Should the right to cross dress be protected in the work place?

If someone is a pre-op transsexual, do you think that they should be allowed to dress in opposite gender attire while in the workplace?

Not if their boss has a problem with it.

This is such a hard one to answer because the way I really feel isn't them most fair way to feel. I think that because some men are so new to dressing and looking like a woman, their appearance may be less than stellar so an employer may not like to have somebody so unattractive in the workplace. But, that said, I know it opens me up to sounding like I think employers should discriminate on looks.

Just that of the pre-op guys I have seen, they look so awkward because they don't do make up well, yet over do it with the make up.

Chris wrote:If someone is a pre-op transsexual, do you think that they should be allowed to dress in opposite gender attire while in the workplace?

Absolutely.

Yes, of course. In order to even get surgery, aren't you required to live as the other sex for a year?

I have a lot of friends who are transsexuals, and I hate that they have so many less rights than everybody else.

I'm leaning towards no.

I think that needs to be addressed during the interview stage and an understanding needs to be reached about it from the start that Steve is living life as Stephanie, and whether or not that would be a problem.

Of course they should have a right. That's why anti-discrimination laws are in place. If someone is doing their job, what's the problem?

tmontyb wrote:Of course they should have a right. That's why anti-discrimination laws are in place. If someone is doing their job, what's the problem?

Definitely. Whether or not the person does their job is the only thing that should matter. Finding conflicting info on the length of time required but it appears they do have to complete a "real life test" or "life test" first. What I saw varied from 3 months to 1 year where they need to live as a male or female, depending. It's unfair to expect them to behave differently 40 (or however long) hours a week so other people can be "comfortable". The person is having the surgery so people might as well get used to the idea.

Marc™ wrote:I think that needs to be addressed during the interview stage and an understanding needs to be reached about it from the start that Steve is living life as Stephanie, and whether or not that would be a problem.

ITA with this, though if the person has been at the job for a number of years, it might not be possible.