Fear, harsh words, violence: All things trans people endure in the service industry
'The reality of our world kind of came crashing down for a few seconds'
Working in the service industry as a transgender person isn't easy. Some people say they still fear for their safety when customers walk through the door and hurl verbal abuse behind the counter.
For 21-year-old Angelina Grace Ives, who came out as a trans woman three years ago, she said she's noticed an improvement in the way customers interact with her — but there are customers who still invoke fear.
"Fear of being retaliated against. Fear of somebody treating me differently because they may or may not know I'm trans," said Ives, who wants to keep the name of her workplace private. "Fear of violence. Fear of my safety."
Although these fears, exist, Ives said she often experiences positive interactions with the public at her workplace. But it's the few people who yell slurs or make harsh comments that take an emotional toll.
Angelina Grace Ives talks about her worst experience as a trans person in the service industry:
As Pride Month comes to an end, Ives wants people to educate themselves about the trans community. Ask questions, she said, but also be kind and respectful.
There are some questions you'd never want to ask, such as anything pertaining to surgeries or a "dead name" — the name that could be found on someone's birth certificate — Ives said.
Friday marks 50 years since the Stonewall riots in New York City established a pivotal turning point in the North American LGBT rights movement.
On the morning of June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Manhattan's Greenwich Village.
Marsha P. Johnson, a black trans woman, is often described as being one of the leading figures surrounding the riot that followed the police raid, though this is a description that Johnson disputed later in her life.
At the time, it was illegal to solicit same-sex relations in the city. Though unrelated, Canada had only just decriminalized same-sex activity the day before the riots.
Even though LGBTQ rights have come a long way, Jamie Defoe says there's still a lot ground to cover when it comes to equity.
Defoe is a 68-year-old trans woman who came out later in life, over two years ago. Her first job since taking that step is in the service industry at Caesars Windsor, one of the city's largest employers.
She said training from the company, and the support she receives from her co-workers and superiors, is nothing short of inclusive and "an amazing ride."
Watch as Jamie Defoe talks about her mostly positive experience in the service industry:
Since starting the new job nearly three months ago, Defoe's experience has been a positive one, with just a few issues along the way that Defoe doesn't believe were malicious.
Defoe recalls how nervous she was on the first day she had to interact with the public. The first time she was mis-gendered at work also still sticks with her today.
It happened when a customer was leaving and said "Thank you sir," an experience Defoe called "horrible."
"I'm sure I must have turned ghost white for a few seconds. I was speechless," said Defoe.
She realizes the person likely wasn't being vicious, but it was something Defoe wasn't expecting.
"The reality of our world kind of came crashing down for a few seconds," she said.
Defoe said she's since learned to accept that the "whole world isn't wonderful," adding that she believes dwelling on something so minor isn't worth it.
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