Recognizing and Improving the Trans Experience

For the LGBTQ+ community, there are so many facets of society that weren’t created with those of us in mind, either on purpose or because of older, restrictive ideology. Navigating a system with a set series of rules and default assumptions is tricky for folks in a minority group or those on the outside of the standard for which the structure has been created. This impacts how we move through the world, taking extra steps in our work lives to be hired and maintain employment, having to assure our legal and civil rights are respected, working to gain access to appropriate and affordable healthcare, and all the other twists and maneuvers it takes to achieve part of the American dream that everyone strives for.

Trans individuals typically encounter specific challenges in addition to those cisgender members of the LGBTQ+ community face. Laws are being passed that limit or in some cases criminalize what medical care is available for transfolk, and many of these new laws are specifically targeting trans and gender non-conforming youth. Regulations are being passed concerning whether they can participate in sports, what bathrooms they can and can’t use, and preventing youth from accessing lifesaving medical care. Additionally, transfolk run the highest risk of both violence and suicide for people who identify under the Pride umbrella. Beyond these headline-making pieces of legislation, everyday obstacles can cause impacts that most cisgender people never deal with.

Grey Hardy, a veteran Cox employee, was invited to speak about his experience transitioning within a corporate environment and living openly as a transgender man for a Pride month event at a top credit reporting agency. During his talk, he shared that his credit score dropped when he changed his name and he was denied a car loan.

This triggered the credit bureau to look at how a full name change may impact a person’s credit. The research determined that name changes were causing issues for trans individuals. The bureau took the learnings and created policy, guidelines, and internal whitepapers around how to help transgender people deal with their credit during and after transitioning.

More than ever, the LGBTQ+ community needs support for affordable health care, civil rights, and legal protection. Every arena from home to work and in between shouldn’t just accept who you are but celebrate your value as a person and the value of what you bring to the table. This Pride month, Cox celebrates our LGBTQ+ employees and our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community.

Cox is proud to be named one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign, receiving a perfect 100% score on the Corporate Equality Index.