Stories of diversity in the workplace : CJ Bryant : Correctional Service Canada
Commissioner Don Head with CJ Bryant
When I was born, my parents named me Connie and I was the second daughter. Today, my name is Conner and I have become my parent's first son. I am transgender and currently undergoing gender reassignment while working as a Primary Worker at Grand Valley Institution for Women (GVI).
I began my career with the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), November 2005, at the age of 24, working as a Primary Worker at Edmonton Institution for Women. At that time in my career, I was openly identified as a "lesbian". It was in 2006 that I began to re-explore being transgendered, what that meant to me and did I fit in to it? It made sense to me, but I was afraid. I wanted to appear male to people as that is how I felt on the inside. In saying that, I wanted to take testosterone and have surgeries. I wanted to go the whole way to appear the way I have always felt.
I was thinking primarily about my career before I decided to proceed with anything. I had many questions and thoughts: What will people think of me? Will I be shunned? Will I be discriminated against, and if so, what would that look like? Am I strong enough to handle the criticism? Am I courageous enough to come out?
In 2006, I began with surgery. I began with chest reconstruction, but that is where it ended for quite some time. To be honest, I was afraid to let people really know that I was transgender. I was unsure about how I would be treated at work.
How many people can say they love their job? Well, I am one of those people. I LOVE MY JOB! If I was to feel less about my job because of discrimination or peoples' ignorance towards my gender reassignment, it would devastate me. I did not want to risk it. I was not confident that I would receive the support. I was not confident it would have been a positive environment for me to transition openly in. I may have been hyper-sensitive at the time, but with good reason. I felt self- conscious, unsure of what was going on inside of me and again, I love my job.
In 2008, I transferred institutions from Edmonton Institution for Women to Grand Valley Institution for Women in Ontario. In 2010, I decided that this was the place to continue my gender reassignment openly and felt confident that I would be supported. I was wary that there may be a few people that I may have a problem with, but I felt that I would receive at least 80% support.
I began by speaking to a union representative. I discussed my situation with her and asked if there was anything management could do to me for wanting to transition on the job. After the discussion I felt confident that I could let it out. In July 2010, I met with a member of management and explained that I was transgendered. I explained that I was planning to go forward with gender reassignment and what that would look like at work, and how my job duties would change. I was certainly expecting a little twinge of shock, but that is not at all what I received. I received openness, acceptance and surety that I would be okay. A sigh of relief came over me at the end of that meeting - for a moment. After the meeting, I was relieved like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders, but then I remembered that I worked with about 120 other people. How was I going to tackle that?
It was the very next day, July 8, 2010 when I received an e-mail from the Warden stating,
"Hi CJ,
Best wishes for your transition. I expect things will go smoothly at GVI and you should find a supportive atmosphere. It's a big step and I can only imagine the amount of thought that has gone into it.... If there is anything I can do to facilitate things, please let me know. More critically, if you experience any difficulties from staff, I need to know and help you deal with that - though I wouldn't expect problems.
All the best,
Dave".
I took him up on his offer and I decided to just let it out for everyone to know. After all, it was not something I was ashamed of. I was definitely unsure of reactions I would receive, but not ashamed.
Through the Warden I sent an e-mail to ALL staff at Grand Valley Institution for Women. This is what was written on July 23, 2010:
"Following is a message from Primary Worker CJ Bryant. I'd like to thank CJ for his openness and am confident he will feel supported by all of us through this transition:
Hello Everyone,
I want to advise everyone of a personal journey I am beginning. This information is going out to ensure everything goes smoothly. I am currently undergoing gender reassignment as I am transgender. What this means is that I am receiving hormone replacement therapy (testosterone). So what you will notice is my voice gets lower, my body structure changing and the obvious facial hair. I am open about this journey it is not something that I am ashamed of.
Please, if you have any questions please feel free to ask and I will do my best to answer them.
Thanks
CJ"
I was absolutely nervous after this e-mail went out. I was not sure what people would say or how they would respond. I was amazed at the support I received. People were asking questions, which I was more than happy to answer because I figured that I'd rather they ask what they are thinking than talk behind my back.
This is a sample of some emails I received.
"I'm so proud of you! ;)"
"I know you and I don't really know each other that well, but I just wanted to say that you're absolutely courageous and I think it's really cool that you're so in tune with who you are on the inside – so few people are. All the power to you, man. :)"
"Wow, CJ! Way to go on having the balls (funny choice of words, huh?!) to just put it out there like that. There's absolutely nothing to be ashamed about and I applaud you on doing what's right for you, and hope that you get nothing but support and encouragement from everyone here."
The support was overwhelming and still is! With all of the support and encouragement I received I was thinking to myself that I should have done it earlier, but I am a firm believer that things happen when and where they were meant to. This was my time and place.
I am currently 18 months into my gender reassignment. I have never felt better about myself as a person or as a Primary Worker at the Correctional Service of Canada. I feel indebted to my fellow Primary Workers for allowing me to feel safe and secure in being me, and to management for their support and encouragement. CSC is not only a great place for accepting diversity, it is encouraging and supportive!
I jumped in with both feet hoping they would land firmly onto the ground. I jumped in and both my feet are firmly planted on the ground. I will not go anywhere. I am here. I am confident. I am proud. I am courageous. I am transgender. I am me.