Message in a Bottle, Answered

I was in the middle of a back alley ghetto, doing phone work.

For those that do not follow my blog usually, or my posts, I will add that I am a phone tech, and it is my job to go, well, everywhere and at all times of the day, and night. As a male, I never gave (as much?) thought to this, as I do now - which is considerable.

At first, I thought it was just my usual fears of the unknown - part of transitioning. But, My fears are crystallized when I go to my managers at work for anything, and they do nothing to accommodate me as a woman - where they would otherwise (and have) for other women.

I'm not saying I or women can't do this job - what I am saying is, that the dynamics have changed for which the elements around me need to be reconsidered. If a woman is to work alone at night in an ally, a manhole or down a dark lonely country road where a cell-tower needs repaired, they wouldn't for a second think twice about sending a partner or backup or even someone else that is better fit for the geographical location.

I have asked time and time again to be relocated or given a different position in this VAST enterprise, but yet, there has been NO ONE to offer me an accommodation to do so.

After you have surgery like GRS, FFS, it takes more than a few weeks, even months to get back to even 80%. Its been 2 years for me, and in that time, I also had a revision... so really, its only been 1 year since my last round of being under the knife. I am just now getting back to 90% where I used to be physically. Your body and abilities change after GRS. Hot flashes are horrible for some of us - I am one of those people who suffer from them and because I have Klinefelters, it is difficult to get a set regimen on my hormones to combat this constant fluctuation of endocrine. Would an air conditioned Van at work be to much to ask for - apparently, it is. That is, if it comes at the cost of taking it from someone with higher seniority.

For 11 years almost now, I have work outside in the elements - dealing with extreme conditions - no AC, no nuttin, but just sucking it up and doing it. That's just how it is...

Well, I can't do that anymore. I'm physically & mentally failing. I know this sounds like a cop out. Sorry. Each day, I am coming home, burnt out from the stress of trying to keep up where I just can't. I can't quit cause its all we have for money right now.

The good news is, someone whom works for AT&T sent a link to my Facebook post into AT&T's LGBT group, "LEAGUE". Someone from there contacted me today through our internal Email inquiring if they could help and that they had connections in the AT&T "Job Accommodations" department.

My response:

"...praise the lord."

Here is a copy of my Original Facebook Post:

I'd be lying if I said wasn't a little nervous right now. This is part of the job I fear - feeling vulnerable as a woman - I can't always go or do the same things I did as a guy, at least without the same sense of security I once had of not being raped, or worse. AT&T won't listen to my concerns... I've tried. I've expressed my personal problems with being in an unfriendly, unproductive and uncomfortable work environment as well as expressing my concerns of personal safety on the job. Today, I'm working alone in a back alley of a ghetto... Maybe it's all in my mind... But I get the feeling I've become the forbidden fruit. No one wants to help me and even strategizing an exit plan has fallen on def ears. I think their just waiting for the apple to fall from the tree :(

God please, rescue me.