Follow-Up - A Lost Art

This is a follow-up to yesterday’s Ambassador discussion (rant), but looking from the opposite prospective.  There are times when something happens above expectations.  Typically restaurant service is: take the order, throw the plate on the table, maybe a refill, and tell you how much to tip.  I wish poor service was the exception, but as I travel there is universally less customer appreciation; the airlines being the biggest offender.  

Last year I had a week long business engagement in Salt Lake City and another the following week in Los Angeles.  Flying back to Florida, and then back out west, expense and time wise, made no sense.  For the weekend I flew into LAX, rented a car and then drove up to Santa Barbara, and the Southern California wine country, Solvang. Think the movie "SideWays".  I had a wonderful time being totally Rhonda the whole time.  What I did not anticipate was a long, heavy traffic drive back to LA Sunday afternoon.  I finally arrive at my LA Hotel and had an above average greeting and check-in.  The hotel was the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles – Commerce.  The total experience just got better, from room quality, staff hospitality, and restaurant meals. 

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles – Commerce.

Upon my return home, I did something that has become a lost art.  I wrote a thank-you to the hotel manager.  As ambassadors for the transgender community, we need to let managers know that their staff treated us well and with respect.  Maybe the staff had sensitivity training or someone transgender works/transition there or maybe there is just a great manager.  Let them know the effort, kindness and training worked.  Many times especially, in the hospitality business, complaints are many and praise is limited.  Take opportunities to leave lasting “GOOD” impressions. 

My note and the response back:

Tell me about your positive experiences and what you did. 

Ambassador

The second definition for Ambassador applies to us: “A person who acts as a representative or promoter of a specified activity”.  Every time we step out, like it or not, we represent the transgender community and by extension the LGBT community.  There are those that like nothing better than to portray a trans women as male predators; Thus the absurd “bathroom bills” of the last state legislative sessions.  

Let's understand that gay marriage occurred because the general population move past negative thinking.  Celebrities like Ellen Degeneres, Lauren Cox, TV shows like Modern Family, Will and Grace, all contributed to positive images.  Every day people like Stana over at the Femulate blog describe going to work as female, shopping and interacting - all positive experiences.  Culture changed can occur.  

We have come a long way as we go into the post Caitlyn Jenner era.  However, as fences come down we need to do our part to make sure that we do not reinforce prejudices.  I was attending a transgender convention early this year and decided not to attend one of the event dinners, opting for a quiet meal in the hotel restaurant.  Also in the restaurant that evening, was a large table of other event attenders that had decided the same.  Luckily, the restaurant was not over crowded because that table, all very well dressed as females, proceeded to act out in what can only be described as the poorest of male behavior.  A loud football argument occurred between several.  One decided to take out her newly acquired breast forms and pass them around for comments.  Loud conversations punctuated with much drinking. 

I watched as several non-event diners, quickly ate and left.  It was not long before the restaurant had emptied out. From that point, they only embarrassed themselves.  

I hesitate to bring this up and there are times when we do not want to represent any cause.  We want to be ourselves, have fun and kick-up-our-heels.  There are times and places to do that. But remember when in public we are ambassadors – like it or not.