How to Support Your Trans Colleagues

by Sayr MotzHello, my name is Sayr and I use they/them pronouns. I’m nonbinary, which means that I’m neither man nor woman (think of me like a gender qubit in superposition between man and woman!) QuTech’s ongoing work to expand gender equity in quantum computing is a good step in the right direction, but as a nonbinary person, most diversity and inclusion initiatives still leave me feeling very excluded and unrepresented. As a field, we are now focused on recruiting and retaining women, which is wonderful and necessary, but talented researchers exist also outside the gender binary and deserve our advocacy too.As another gender minority in quantum, my experience often intersects with the experience of women, but there are a few unique challenges that transgender people face in the workplace that cisgender (i.e. non-transgender) people do not. Gender dysphoria—the incongruence between the gender you identify with, and the gender you are perceived as—is an exhausting, isolating and emotionally painful experience. These negative emotions can be triggered unexpectedly when you are misgendered by others, or when your identity is completely neglected in conversations about gender. Yet, some transgender people may choose to live with dysphoria if they feel unsafe to come out to their colleagues, which is frequently the case when our workplaces lack gender literacy and allyship. But you can help!1) Offer your own pronouns, so it is not as intimidating for trans people to do it2) Adopt gender-neutral language so that nonbinary people are included3) Learn how to speak about trans topics respectfully and call out transphobic behavior4) Speak up on behalf of people who are misgendered5) Advocate for gender inclusive infrastructureAs we collectively build a quantum workforce and make decisions that will indelibly shape an entire industry, it is imperative that we expand our mission towards gender equity to include nonbinary people as well as women. Our ongoing work to assemble a diverse community within our field is wasted if the marginalized members of our community still feel excluded or unsafe. The inclusion of minorities is only achievable through the active, sustained allyship of the majority, and it is time that our field makes space for transgender people to contribute and thrive.Sayr grew up in Dayton, Ohio, USA, and after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, they moved to Delft to begin a MSc in applied physics. Currently, they are working on scaling up Germanium quantum dot arrays in the Veldhorst group. In addition to their research, Sayr is also passionate about their pet turtle Buddy and volunteering at Outsite. In their free time, they enjoy oil painting, kickboxing, and playing the piano. References [1] Blackless M, Charuvastra A, Derryck A, Fausto-Sterling A, Lauzanne K, Lee E. How sexually dimorphic are we? Review and synthesis. Am J Hum Biol. 2000 Mar;12(2):151-166. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1520-6300(200003/04)12:23.0.CO;2-F. PMID: 11534012.[2] O’Sullivan S.

The Colonial Project of Gender (and Everything Else). Genealogy. 2021; 5(3):67. https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy5030067