Chimers Chime In with Pride: Listening to and amplifying trans and non-binary voices, starting with our own

The freedom to express gender identity at work is important for [all/many] individuals, groups, organizations, and the broader world. To celebrate Pride Month, our Chimer Resource Group OutChime grounded itself and Chimers across the organization in the theme of gender identity and expression. As their north star for all content and events during the month, they shared:

Gender identity and expression are fundamental aspects of human identity, yet many individuals still face discrimination and violence based on their gender. We want to center the voices and experiences of trans and non-binary individuals, creating a space where people can explore and celebrate their identities without fear of judgment or harm.

We strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that honors and celebrates the diversity of gender identities and expressions. We believe that every person has the right to express themselves authentically and be recognized and respected for who they are, regardless of societal norms or expectations. We are committed to providing education, resources, and support for individuals of all gender identities and expressions and advocating for greater understanding, acceptance, and equality for all.

We sat down with Gwen Gilkey (she/her/hers) and Harper Arnold (they/them/theirs) to discuss the trans experience and the voices that have inspired them. While we went into the conversation with the idea of highlighting trans voices that have inspired Gwen and Harper, we walked away with an entirely different takeaway: for them, there have been no stories more powerful and important to amplify than their own.

“I’ve been out for a long time and I’ve always been open about coming out,” says Gwen, the Lead for Risk Mission Control at Chime. “There weren’t as many trans people then, so when I was growing up, I took whatever I could get.”

Long before Gwen came out, she looked to Kim Petras, a pop star who came out at age 13, as the first example to Gwen of a trans person paving their own path. “She performed at the Grammys recently and is still finding success, which is huge,” Gwen says.

And while Gwen looked to Kim as an example growing up, she didn’t fully relate to her. “As I was coming out, I didn’t have many people who I could look up to, and that was difficult,” she says. In response to a lack of voices to listen to, she made a deliberate effort to be publicly trans. “Because there isn’t a lot of representation, I see the value of being out through my schooling and career,” she says. “I want to be an example and inspiration to everyone else so they can have their hopes and dreams.”

For Harper, a Systems Manager for Member Strategy & Enablement who has been at Chime for a few months, Gwen is pretty inspiring. “When I came out at work a few years ago, it was soul-crushing,” they say. “That’s one of the reasons I’m at Chime — my goal is to stand on my own two feet and be fully in my identity at work. This is the first job where I’ve been respected for my identity and felt like I could safely speak up.”

When Harper started transitioning in their early thirties, they had never seen an example of someone doing so at a similar life stage. “Nowadays, we see trans people in politics — like Zooey Zephyr — on the Grammys, on TV shows — like a transmasculine character on Umbrella Academy — but I didn’t see that growing up,” they say. “I didn’t have those people to identify with when I was a teenager and living in turmoil. There is a huge opportunity and we have so much to do to set the stage for each other, and part of that starts with sharing.”

A stage that wasn’t ever set for Harper growing up was that of being trans in the tech industry. “I never expected to be a successful trans person in tech,” they say. “While it was my dream as a queer kid growing up in the Bay Area, I didn’t think I could show up to work and not feel the weight of my identity. It’s an incredible feeling to be able to do so.”

Finding our own voices

Without role models or trans voices to listen to, Gwen has instead focused on making her own path. “I try not to adhere to others’ examples,” she says.

To pave her own way, Gwen has relied on a lot of goal-setting. “Setting goals can help you know where you want to go in life,” she says. “One of my long-term goals, transitioning, was a huge goal, and there was a distinct before and after. And being out for a while — that feeling that ‘I friggin’ did it’ — has freed me up to work towards other goals, like getting into politics someday. I know it won’t happen tomorrow, but having long-term goals helps me put one foot in front of the other and know I’m moving towards something. And while I’m mindful of where I want to go and where I am, I try not to force the issue too much and go with the flow when I can.”

Harper has had to find their own voice because the trans experience is so unique for every person. “It’s hard to pinpoint one person having a trans experience to look up to because we’re so different, and being trans encompasses so many things — from binary to non-binary trans folks.

It’s great to see different representations, but they can be so nuanced that it becomes hard to find one person, in particular, to identify with.”

Overall, Harper feels grateful for coming out, even though it’s hard to do most days, and having the availability of information at their fingertips. “You can go onto Google, TikTok, and YouTube to learn all sorts of things,” they say. “I’d been going to therapy for years and finally came out to my therapist. She helped me connect to the Pacific Center for Human Growth, where I joined a transmasculine peer group. I’d never even heard of something like that. Being able to have these group conversations in community around what it means to transition, and asking others what it was like for them — it was so helpful. I even workshopped ideas for how to come out to my parents.”

When Harper looks at the community that they have found, they see resilience and giving. “Learning how to celebrate trans joy and what that means to you in this era can be so hard, but my community has shown me that it doesn’t always have to be,” they say.

Showing up authentically in the spaces we occupy

For Harper, who’s never spent time in a work setting with other trans people they were aware of, showing up authentically has been a learning curve. “As somebody who just came out a couple of years ago, it’s been hard to learn how to take up and give space,” they say.

“I think a lot about how I can create spaces that are safe for people to show up and be their full selves in work and my personal life. It’s been a hard journey to build community and find folks who celebrate my identity and my milestones, like my medical transition or the first weird mustache hair that I grew on my face after starting testosterone. Finding ways to articulate my experience to people has been a challenge, too — if you haven’t experienced it, it can be hard to digest. I often tell people that I identify as both trans and non-binary, and while I find it difficult to explain my existence in a way that makes sense to people, I also tell them that it’s not the most interesting thing about me — it is a thing about me. What it comes down to is asking people to honor what it is that I share with them and respect the boundaries that I set.”

And for Gwen, the spaces she feels most comfortable expressing herself are those where others do the same. “If I feel I can be outspoken and people will be accepting of me, that’s when I bring the full Gwen experience to the table,” she says. “When I know others are able to bring their full selves, it helps me open up. I don’t necessarily see it as needing there to be another LGBTQIA+ experience in the room. Often, I’m the only transgender person in the room, so I look for people to be friendly and open.”

As Gwen and Harper continue to tell and amplify trans stories including their own, they also look outward for resources and support — and suggest others do so, too. “Personally, I’d like to start doing a lot more reading to understand the ways in which gender-expansive people have existed over time,” Harper says. “Because I think a big part of the conversation that gets lost amongst non-trans people is that this is a fad. I’d like to try and better understand what gender expansiveness has looked like over time.” They also recommend getting involved with local organizations and peer groups to build community and understanding.

“The internet is always a great resource, but it can be a scary space at the same time,” Harper says. “It’s a great place to get familiar with the history and better understand the state of trans legislation across the country,” Gwen adds.

Here are some online resources and community hubs local to Chime’s offices (San Francisco, Chicago, and Vancouver) that Gwen and Harper both appreciate and recommend:

• Erin In The Morning, news and discussion on trans legislation and life
• Pacific Center for Human Growth, the oldest LGBTQIA+ center in the Bay Area
• The National Center for Lesbian Rights
• Trikone, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people of South Asian descent in the Bay Area
• Transgender Law Center, the largest national trans-led organization advocating self-determination for all people
• Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest, largest and most effective advocacy organization dedicated to defending rights for LGBTQ+ Illinoisans
• Center on Halsted, the Midwest’s most comprehensive community center dedicated to advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people of Chicagoland
• The Brave Space Alliance, a Black-Led, Trans-Led LGBTQ+ Center on the south side of Chicago providing affirming, culturally competent, for-us-by-us resources
• Qmunity, a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, BC that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives
• What’s On Queer, BC’s local LGBTQ2SI+ Magazine and Resource Centre

At Chime, we believe that every Chimer should be seen and valued for their full identity. We strive to foster an environment that empowers them to live authentically and always feel welcome at work. One way we do this is by amplifying the stories and perspectives of many Chimers, and we’re grateful for their honesty, authenticity, and willingness to share.