Gender in Focus

What are people actually thinking when they meet a trans person for the first time? In this episode of Gender in Focus, El puts Kai on the spot and asks the questions trans and non-binary people get asked all the time - questions people ask out loud far more often than you'd expect, including from complete strangers, and the ones many don't realize are invasive until they've already asked them. Fr...

Why does gender show up as the deciding factor in some workplace policies and programs -  often in ways that quietly exclude trans and non-binary people - even when it's not really what's at stake? In this episode of Gender in Focus, TransFocus's Kai Scott and El Orchard break down the "Who to What" reframe: the framework they use to help organizations stop treating gender as a blanket catego...

Why do trans and non-binary people often have to prove their identity to doctors, psychiatric panels, and even courts - even after they've already told you who they are? In this episode of Gender in Focus, TransFocus's Kai Scott and El Orchard unpack gender self-determination: the idea that people should be able to define their own gender identity without needing outside approval, and why so many...

What does it actually mean when someone uses multiple pronouns, like she/they, he/they, or he/she (among others) - and why do so many people assume it's just for attention? In this episode of Gender in Focus, El and Kai break down multiple pronoun use: what it means, why trans and non-binary people use two or more pronoun sets (like she/they, he/they, or he/she), and how to get it right without ov...

Trans bathroom bans are marketed as protecting women. The data say otherwise. In the US, at least 21 states now restrict trans people from using washrooms that match their gender identity, requiring access based on sex assigned at birth instead. Canada has taken the opposite approach - gender identity has been the legal standard for washroom access since the late 1990s. So which model actually wor...

A transgender employee just came out at work—what should HR do next? In this episode of Gender in Focus, El and Kai break down exactly what HR, managers, and DEI leaders need to know when an employee discloses their gender identity at work, and why "employee-led" doesn't mean hands-off. TransFocus consults organizations on building trans and non-binary inclusive workplaces, and in this episode Kai...

Why does almost every conversation about trans people eventually turn to surgery? In this episode of Gender in Focus, El and Kai Scott unpack the "have you had the surgery?" question — where it comes from, what it reveals about cis assumptions around gender and bodies, and why it's especially loaded at work. Kai breaks down why "the surgery" is never just one surgery, why genitals so often become...

Trans and non-binary employees are exhausted by non-stop anti-trans news cycles — and most workplace support falls flat because it's performative, not practical. In this episode of Gender in Focus, El and Kai unpack the real impact that constant anti-trans news, legislation, and court rulings (including the U.S. Supreme Court's Skrmetti decision ) are having on trans and non-binary employees — and...

Do trans people regret transitioning? The research says something very different from what most people assume about transition regret. In this episode, El and Kai break down the real data on transgender regret rates, gender-affirming care outcomes, and detransition statistics — including a meta-analysis of 27 studies across 14 countries and nearly 8,000 trans patients, which found a combined regre...

“You’re making us look bad.” It’s a phrase some trans and non-binary people have heard. Not from critics, but from other trans people who worry that being too visible, too different, or too outspoken will make acceptance harder for everyone. In this episode of Gender in Focus, Kai and El explore the fear that sits underneath comments like “tone it down,” “don’t rock the boat,” and “you’re asking f...

Photos are supposed to preserve memories. But what happens when a photo captures a time in your life that feels complicated to look back on? For many trans and non-binary people, photos from before coming out or transitioning can bring up a wide range of reactions. Some people find them painful or uncomfortable. Some keep them private. Others find them funny, nostalgic, or even enjoy sharing befor...

Many organizations are working hard to become more inclusive of trans and non-binary people. But even in workplaces with supportive leaders, inclusive policies, and good intentions, non-binary employees can still end up being overlooked. In this episode of Gender in Focus, Kai and El explore what happens when workplace systems are built around the assumption that everyone is either a man or a woma...

Let’s be honest: public washrooms are a space that a lot of us, whether trans or not, deeply dislike. Between the giant gaps around stall doors, the total lack of auditory privacy, and the strange amount of eye contact it’s somehow possible to make while peeing, it often feels like public bathroom design completely ignores how uncomfortable the experience actually is for the people using them. Thi...

Why does your organization ask for gender on so many forms, surveys, and employee systems? For many workplaces, the honest answer is surprisingly simple: “Because we’ve always done it that way.” In this episode of Gender in Focus, Kai and El unpack the hidden assumptions, workplace risks, and ethical questions surrounding gender data collection. From human resources systems and onboarding forms to...

Thinking about making your office washrooms more inclusive? Slapping an “all-gender” sign on an existing door might seem like a quick, low-cost fix, but it almost always backfires. In this episode of Gender in Focus, El and resident "washroom king" Kai Scott to pull back the curtain on the design and corporate strategy required to build a successful all-gender multi-stall facility. From knocking d...

Most people automatically assume they know someone’s gender the moment they hear their pronouns. But pronouns and gender identity are not always the same thing — and that mental shortcut can create a surprising amount of confusion, pressure, and harm. In this episode, El and Kai unpack one of the most misunderstood conversations around pronouns and gender diversity. Together, they explore why peop...

Why are there menstrual products in men’s bathrooms - and why is it sparking backlash? In this episode of Gender in Focus, we unpack one of the most surprising inclusion debates showing up in workplaces, schools and public spaces. As organizations begin introducing free menstrual products in all washrooms, including men’s and all-gender washrooms, many are discovering that what seemed like a simpl...

People often get this wrong about being trans. A lot of people have heard the phrase “born in the wrong body.” It’s one of the most common ways trans experiences are explained — in media, online, and everyday conversations. But how accurate is it? In this episode of Gender in Focus, we unpack where that idea comes from, why it’s so widely used, and why it doesn’t reflect the reality for many trans...

What does it mean to transition - and do all trans people medically transition? When people hear the word “transitioning,” most immediately think of surgery, hormones, or medical care. But that’s only one part of the picture. In this episode of Gender in Focus, we look at what transitioning actually means for trans and non-binary people - and why the way it’s commonly understood doesn’t quite refl...

Do you need a trans inclusion policy at work? Or could it actually create more problems than it solves? When organizations look to support trans and non-binary employees, one of the first questions that comes up is: Should we create a trans inclusion policy? In this episode of Gender in Focus, we break down how to approach trans inclusion in the workplace — and why creating a standalone trans incl...

Some people don’t use pronouns at all. No he. No she. No they. So what does that actually mean - and how are you supposed to talk? In this episode, we break down what it means when someone uses no pronouns, why some trans and non-binary people ask for this, and how to refer to someone without using pronouns in real life. For many people, this is something they haven’t come across before. It can ta...

Many trans employees end up doing inclusion work on top of their actual job - helping fix workplace problems they never signed up to solve. In this episode of Gender in Focus, we explore why trans and non-binary people can find themselves carrying significant amounts of unpaid diversity and inclusion labour in the workplace. From noticing barriers in everyday systems to helping shape policy decisi...

Many organizations are still trying to understand trans and non-binary people in the workplace and how to support them while building more inclusive leadership. Conversations about inclusion at work often focus on policies, barriers or how to avoid getting things wrong. Yet trans leadership talent is rarely part of the conversation. In this episode of Gender in Focus, we explore why more companies...

How do you ask about gender on surveys and forms without creating new problems? Fill-in-the-blank gender options often feel like the most inclusive solution. But when organizations try to analyze responses or turn demographic data into action, the reality can be much more complicated. In this episode of Gender in Focus, we look at what really happens when teams start collecting gender data. We exp...

Misgendering is often thought of as a simple mistake - a brief moment that can be corrected and moved past. But for many trans and non-binary people, misgendering can happen repeatedly in everyday interactions. Over time, these moments can shape how safe it feels to speak up, participate, or navigate workplaces and social spaces. In this episode, we explore what misgendering actually means, why it...