Mediaboss Marketing

Last December, I filed a report against Melissa Martz for sexual harassment. This is my story.

In December of 2018, I began working for Martz on the Social Marketing Team. I had a role on the team that fit my career trajectory well. I felt like the fruits of my labor were finally paying off.

Of course, I hit a snag. The name that Martz received on my application was not the name I was using. She didnt know it yet, but I am transgender.

For a long time, this wasnt acknowledged beyond a question in the initial interview. However, when I reapplied to the job for the next academic year, the wrong name came up again. This time, it became an issue. Martz brought me into her office after a team meeting and I was forced to out myself.

Initially, there were minor issues; pronoun and name clarification were necessary. This is standard procedure when someone finds out about my identity. I asked her to keep the information private. I found out some time later that she told one of my coworkers that there was a transgender person on the team, but did not specify who.

My identity gradually became an overarching theme in private conversation with Martz. Full disclosure: I am comfortable answering appropriate questions. What I am not comfortable with is what happened next.

In December of 2019, a year after first receiving the job and mere months after being outed, I met with Martz for what was meant to be a standard work meeting. The meeting was work-related for the first 20 minutes, but quickly evolved into private, personal conversation about my identity and experiences fueled by Martzs invasive questions.

Amongst the questions were: how did you know you were transgender? How did your family react? Were you bullied? You went to therapy? Were you depressed? Were you suicidal? How does bottom surgery work? How do hormones work? Who is your doctor?

The questions continued, and I felt stuck. I sat and answered her questions from 2 pm until it was dark outside. I walked away feeling empty and violated.

This is why when her social media posts became a topic of controversy, I was unfortunately not surprised. The University thinks that diversity training will heal these wounds. As someone who sat down and gave Melissa Martz a free, hours long seminar on an important issue of diversity: some people are just too far gone. And I want to be an optimist.

I know Im not the only one whos worked with her as a student who has a story. My peers and I have been actively trying to change her perspective on these issues for a long time and clearly the progress hasnt been made. I dont know about you, but Im quite frankly tired of being afraid of the repercussions that come with being myself. For my fellow classmates, I hope you never have to live with that fear. By shining a light on these issues, I hope the campus can start a serious conversation surrounding the safety and comfort of marginalized populations.

Signed,

Anonymous

See the article here:
Letter to the Editor: Where Is The Accountability? - The Bottom Line News