corporate policy # 3

Many bloggers mentioned the good news coming out of the corporate landscape when Google publicly opposed California's Proposition 8.

Now Google has gone several steps further in marking Transgender Remembrance Day, which was yesterday.

November 20th marks Transgender Remembrance Day, which takes on a special significance in a world awakening to the need for unity among all people. In observing this day, the Gayglers — the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) group within Google — extend their wholehearted support to the LGBT community at large, as we reflect on the senseless violence perpetrated against transgender people around the world.

People who identify or express their gender differently than the one assigned to them at birth usually call themselves transgender or transsexual. All too often, they are subjected to a range of not-so-subtle prejudices and transphobia, from verbal abuse to physical violence. Imagine walking into a public restroom in a state of dread over a confrontation about your appearance. Imagine visiting a doctor and worrying about how far to "out" yourself to receive appropriate care. Studies suggest that transgender people are 16 times more likely to be killed than the general population -- earlier this month, in fact, a transgender woman in Tennessee was murdered -- and this is just the most recent of many such cases.

We're fortunate here at Google, where there are LGB and T people at all levels of the company, thanks to enlightened hiring and promotion practices that set aside sexual orientation or gender presentation. Ultimately, Google fosters a workplace where everyone has the ability to be themselves at work. For transgender employees in particular, that means everything.

On this Transgender Remembrance Day, take just a few moments to remember the trans siblings, parents, friends and lovers who lost their lives to gender-based intolerance and hatred. Let's all share in a future where tolerance and understanding transforms the world. And let's work to create a better place for everyone to live peaceably in an all-inclusive world community that merits our deepest pride.

It's good - and important - to support same-sex marriage, an idea which is mainstream and commonplace for millions of ordinary people of all different orientations. But many of those same people still consider transgendered people freaks and outcasts. Google's recognition of Transgender Remembrance Day is a helpful step on the road to understanding. This is good corporate citizenship, and they should be commended for it.

If you would like to read a very good book about one transgendered person's experience, I highly recommend Crossing, by Deirdre McCloskey. I blogged about it here and here.

Thanks to James for sending the Google post.