In Largo, FL, Steve Stanton, the city manager, announced that he was going to get a sex-change operation. He expected to be able to keep his job and continue his life, only as a woman. He was wrong; the city commissioners fired him.
I think that for a little while I believed he could get away with it and escape brutal prejudice. Of course, that was rather naive of me, wasn't it? Florida may be a gay haven at times with its Gay Days and plethora of wonderful gay bars and nightclubs but outside of the tourism business, Florida is really homophobic. In the case of Stanton, I kind of understand their reluctance to keep him up, but this reluctance is based on a social standing. I think the major question is "Can he still perform his job?" I believe the answer would be yes.
A new article had this to say:
Commissioners contended Stanton was being fired because they lost confidence in him, not because he wants to be a woman.
"I think we're pretty well convinced," Commissioner Gay Gentry said. "You have to believe us, you have to trust us, it is not about transgenderism."
Not about transgenderism? Please! So, the fact that you fired him after he declared his plan to become a woman is purely coincidental. They suddenly lost confidence in a person who has been City Manager for 14 years. Yes, I'll believe that... Not really. Seriously though, Stanton was fully willing to help his coworkers adjust. He'd written an eight-page transition plan and now all that hard work is gone to waste! Good job city of Largo. I give the man credit for not only "coming out" (I'm not sure if I'd call it that) but for thinking of others! I would have just said, "Here I am! Deal with me!"
I love how I was watching the news and a man (an old man who didn't even work for the city) said something along the lines of it being a shame Stanton- who was such a nice guy, with a wife and kids and all - decided to do this. Because apparently, now that he's "defying nature" he's a horrible, dreadful scum of a person. I think that man's comment pretty much sums up the entire city's (including the commissioners) viewpoints and the reason why they fired Stanton.
Florida- grow up. This is 2007 and we're supposed to be open and non-discriminating. Don't you want to get out of the stereotype of being a prejudice southern state? Give this man back his job! Or Stanton, you should sue. We all know they fired you for being transgender and we all know, somewhere in our heart, that was wrong.
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
I live in Florida and I KNOW that it is not a "homophobic" state. You should not base your opinion on one single event. You are right to suspect that Stanton's termination was not solely based on the City Commissioners "losing confidence in him", but you are wrong to say that the entier state is homophobic. Take into consideration that many people that reside in Largo spoke out against Stanton's termination.
I also live in Florida and I'd say we are homophobic. Sorry. Perhaps not more than any other state but still.
It all comes down to this. . .Our society is very set in its ways. We has a whole aren't ready to accept transgenderism, transexuals, etc. . .and we don't want the media's eye and public critism brought to us! Yes this is my opinion but I truly feel its true.
Our Constitution does not allow us to deny the basic rights of citizenship to someone just because "society" isn't "ready for it."
percivale
Very true. I think that transgender people are sadly, "just another notch" in Americas belt of discrimination (that was a horrible example I know) which is already long enough.
Sorry but I had to do this: http://www.progressiveu.org/133734-america-ethnocentrism-racism :)