Ginger Copes, who is nonbinary, can bring their whole self to work when they head to the CBS3 Philadelphia office, writes Shane O’Neill for The New York Times.

Copes first began considering their work outfits as a self-expression opportunity after an on-boarding meeting where employees were encouraged to come to work as their true selves. Copes ditched traditionally masculine looks and instead started wearing maxi skirts paired with button-down shirts.

The response from their coworkers was overwhelmingly positive. Several even noted that now Copes seemed especially confident and happy at work.

“Feeling liberated in the way that you present is just so important because it will also reflect how your mood is, whether you’re dragging yourself to work or you’re showing up as 100 percent yourself and you love it,” they said.

However, this feeling does not extend to all aspects of Copes’ life. They always make sure to change clothes during their commute home for fear of violence in their own neighborhood.

“I have denim jeans underneath the maxi skirt,” they said. “I just pull down the maxi skirt, and boom: I’m masculine again.”

Read more about Ginger Copes in The New York Times.

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Ginger Copes’ professional journey at CBS Philadelphia is only one of a number of stories worldwide about nonbinary status at work;
this 2018 testimony offers a similar stance from a different viewpoint.