Ask the Experts: Supporting a cross-dresser

A member of our staff is a cross-dresser, but is not open about this at work. He was recently seen by an ex-member of the youth group while out socially and is now having a difficult time with the kids as they mock him. I don’t know how to make this better.

It is really up to the member of staff to decide whether he wants to come out and share his private world with the young people. There are, of course, ways that you can help to introduce the idea via workshops, documentaries and so on. It sounds like this is part of his leisure time rather than something relevant in his working day so he may not want to suggest this.

Displaying posters and magazines that raise the issues would help to show that the project supports the staff member, but I would not suggest this is acted upon without discussion with him first. It seems that the most appropriate move would be to ask him how the project can best support him.

There are localised transvestite groups you can find depending on where you are based. Alternatively, Stonewall could direct you to an organisation for further information.

Answered by Tracie Trimmer-Platman, senior lecturer in youth and community work at the University of East London