Wizards of the Coast Faces Backlash for Deadnaming Trans Employees During Union Vote, Issues Apology, and Repeats Incident
In the lead-up to a union election at Wizards of the Coast for Magic: The Gathering Arena, the company reportedly deadnamed several transgender employees in front of their peers. When this was brought to their attention, WOTC issued an apology, only to repeat the same mistake during the election week.
Multiple employees eligible for union participation shared their experiences. They explained that WOTC and the group seeking to unionize had agreed on an election format that included in-person voting for office staff and mail-in ballots for remote workers. As part of this process, WOTC submitted a list of eligible voters to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). While WOTC has generally been supportive of transgender employees and their chosen names, the list submitted included the legal names of all employees, including the deadnames of several transgender individuals. This list was then made available on an internal site accessible to all employees.
Xib Vaine, one of the employees whose deadname was revealed, learned about the situation when a coworker reached out, noting they couldn’t find Vaine’s name on the list. “I checked and saw my deadname, which nobody at work knows. I’ve been telling people that as a trans person, I just don’t want my deadname out there. It feels like if the company had sent my nude pictures to everyone—it’s violating and just awful.”
When confronted, WOTC removed the list and opted to send individual emails to eligible employees with voting instructions. However, during the in-person voting earlier this week, it became apparent that WOTC had not updated the list with the NLRB. Union elections do not require legal names or ID; employees only need to confirm their identity as listed. Unfortunately, several transgender employees were compelled to disclose their legal names to the NLRB representative in front of others waiting to vote. Later, the NLRB representative attempted to facilitate a more private confirmation process, but was still bound by the list provided by the company.
In response to inquiries, WOTC shared a message with eligible employees addressing the situation:
“Team,
As part of the ongoing union election, we shared a list of employee legal names with the NLRB and CWA to identify the bargaining group for voting. We did not include preferred names at that time, opting to provide minimal personally identifying information while fulfilling our obligations. This list was approved for use in the voting process by both the NLRB and union representatives.
Last week, we provided voting directions to eligible employees that included the same list of legal names. In our haste to clarify voting instructions, we overlooked the use of legal names instead of preferred names. After employees raised concerns, we acted quickly to resend the information with employees on BCC and issued an apology.
Yesterday, as planned and approved by the NLRB and union representatives, that list was again used during on-site voting and in mail-in ballots sent directly to voting employees. The use of legal names was part of a legal process, but we recognize the emotional impact on affected employees who may have had to validate their legal name instead of their preferred name, or who may receive their ballot addressed to their legal name.
Moving forward, we will handle this issue with greater care and ensure that we use preferred names in communications wherever possible, as permitted by the NLRB and CWA.”
WOTC did not clarify what “legal process” necessitated the use of legal names. A spokesperson from the union indicated they had contacted the NLRB regional office, which stated they work with whatever list is provided by the employer and do not require legal names, having used preferred names in the past when requested.
Transgender employees expressed how hurtful and antagonistic this situation felt. They highlighted the challenges of legally changing names and contrasted the treatment during this election with the usual support they receive from the Arena team, which has historically been inclusive. “I don’t want to paint WOTC as anti-trans,” one anonymous employee shared. “That hasn’t been my experience. I’ve loved working here because of the support I feel as a trans person. This situation is jarring because it contradicts the kindness I experience daily.”
Sources indicated that the Magic: The Gathering Arena leadership held an all-hands meeting where they formally apologized for the incident. Attendees reported that the meeting was well-received and a positive step toward mending relations between staff and management. However, they noted a disconnect between how Arena leadership communicates with employees and how the broader company and its legal team are handling union matters.
“I think it impacted me because Arena has worked really hard,” Vaine remarked. “The culture within Arena, not Wizards of the Coast or Hasbro, but within Arena itself, has created a very inclusive and safe space for openly queer individuals. It feels comfortable, and I have many queer coworkers. Everyone’s an ally, and it’s great. So, my guard was down, making this situation all the more shocking.”
Kaylee Rose, another impacted employee, added, “This reflects the lack of control Arena leadership has had over communications in recent weeks. I’m also trans, and while I’ve been less visible lately, seeing the direct harm caused here was painful. I’ve always felt safe at Wizards on Arena, where respect and care are the norms. It’s frustrating to see our company values so easily overlooked.”
Employees from Magic: The Gathering Arena announced their intention to unionize last month. In response, WOTC declined to voluntarily recognize the union and opted for an election, sending emails to eligible employees urging them to reconsider voting in favor of unionization. The in-person election has concluded, with results expected to be announced on June 23 after all mail-in ballots are counted.
