DALLAS — In May of 2020 we handed over our platform to Black voices in our North Texas community through a series called “While I Have Your Attention.”
Those courageous souls spoke out against racial bias, race based violence, and systemic racism.
Now, as we mark another Pride Month that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community, we are, once again, turning our platform over to our family, friends, and neighbors to amplify even more voices in the struggle for equality in America.
Here is the story of Prisilla Arredondo, a trans woman working at the Resource Center, one of the largest organizations in Texas:
It feels very disappointing that we've come so far, and now we’re having a setback that we still have people out there discriminating on us.
I would like to let 'em know that we’re no different than their coworker or their brother or their sister. We’re people, and we deserve respect just like anybody else.
Now that I have your attention, don’t allow anyone to change you. Always be you and love yourself.
My name is Prisilla Arredondo, and my pronouns are she/her. I am a very proud trans woman that works for one of the largest organizations in Texas.
I didn’t know that trans even existed. When I was growing up, I just knew that I was different. I knew that I didn’t want to play with cars. I wanted to play with dolls. But I knew that having the support of my family, my mother, that allowed me to be who I wanted to be. It made it easy. So I never experienced hatred or ugliness or discrimination until I started working in corporate, in the workplace. And it really took me down.
All I asked for was to be treated as any other employee. In the very beginning of my career, I was working property management and I was living basically a double life. I would go to work nine to five with no makeup, my hair slicked back in a ponytail and just tried to be the person I was named as.
So when I decided to go through my transition – and fully transition – I went to work and told them, “Hey, this is me. This is who I am. I would like for you to support me on this.” They said, “OK. Unfortunately, you’ll have to step down from your management role.” Basically, I was demoted just because this is what I wanted to do. I took it. I wanted to keep my job, and I wanted to finish my transition. I know that I became a different person.
When I got to fully transition, I went through many obstacles just because I was trans. Not because of how I worked or my work ethic. It was hurtful. Now I know that hate does exist, and there’s many people out there in the world who have it at home.
These days, I’m working for the Resource Center. I don’t have to worry about who I am, or if I’m being judged. I feel safe in the environment that I am in. And for that, I’m very blessed to be able to call the Resource Center my employer.
It can be very hard. But, with the Resource Center, there’s always help. There’s always someone there who will listen to you, help you, and guide you on your journey.
Some people will be ugly towards you. They’ll try to bring you down. But stay strong and you’ll have a strong, successful journey.
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