Transgender City Manager fired.

[phxguy]

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/03/24/Ta...y__Stant.shtml

St. Petersburg Times, Saturday, March 24, 2007, 2:07am EDT

DESPITE OUTCRY, STANTON IS FIRED
Largo again votes 5-2; dozens testify his gender change shouldn't matter.

By LORRI HELFAND, St. Petersburg Times

LARGO, Florida - Steve Stanton couldn't overcome the odds. Largo city commissioners voted 5-2 to fire him early this morning, a month after he revealed he planned to become a woman.

The vote was identical to one taken Feb. 27 and came after a six-hour meeting including four hours of public testimony, most of it urging the commission to save Stanton's job.

"I was optimistic, but realistic that it was going to be very difficult to slow down the train," Stanton, 48, said after the vote. He said he has made no decision about whether he'll take additional legal action.

Stanton - joined by his attorney, specialists and accomplished transgender people - had led the charge for his job Friday night, asking commissioners to look past gender issues and judge him on his accomplishments in 14 years as Largo's top bureaucrat.

"I'm asking you to realize I'm still the same person today that I was four weeks ago. I'm asking you to judge me on my qualifications and performance and the fact that this organization is the best run organization in Pinellas County," he said.

But in the end, commissioners said that they lost their trust in him and that he didn't meet the leadership standards he set for employees.

"I will tell you it is not about transgenderism," said Commissioner Gay Gentry. "It is about making sure that the 1,000 people who work in the city, work in such a way that they can give superior services for the 75,000 people who live in this city. I tried to vote the right way for the right reasons."

Commissioner Andy Guyette said honesty, integrity and trust were the foundations of their relationship with him and that "without trust, there is no longer a foundation to any relationship."

Gentry and Guyette were among the five commissioners who moved to fire Stanton in an emergency meeting Feb. 27, six days after the St. Petersburg Times disclosed he was undergoing hormone therapy in anticipation of gender re-assignment surgery. Later stories, which have garnered interest around the world, revealed Stanton had told a handful of subordinates and elected officials about his plans, but not every commissioner.

Stanton's 30-minute statement Friday night, his most extensive comments since the Feb. 27 meeting, were nearly eclipsed by the spectacle of the evening. After Stanton and his team spoke for two hours, commissioners began hearing from the roughly 100 people who had signed up to speak. Most were from Tampa Bay and they included several transgendered people, including a Pasco sheriff's deputy. Most spoke in support of Stanton.

Shortly before 10PM, the meeting was briefly stopped for a bomb scare; his assistant city manager, Henry Schubert, was treated by paramedics after he blacked out; and across City Hall, dozens of the nearly 300 people in attendance wore light pink T-shirts that proclaimed "Don't Discriminate."

They were distributed by Equality of Florida, a statewide advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Stanton apologized for not informing some commissioners before they heard of his plans in the media, and he explained why he didn't leave and transition out of the public spotlight.

"Largo has not been a job to me," he said. "Largo's been a passion. One does not just replace one's passion."

Stanton's plea came after 90 minutes of presentations from his team of experts, who sought to remind commissioners of his success as city manager. They explained what it means to be transgendered and how someone can make a smooth transition in the work place.

Among those supporting Stanton's case were Susan Kimberly, former deputy mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota, who started living as a woman in 1983; and Margaret Stumpp, chief investment officer for Quantitative Investment Management Associates, who transitioned from man to woman five years ago while keeping her job overseeing $60-billion in investments.

Stanton's case also included comments by Dr. Walter Bockting, associate professor at University of Minnesota Medical School and a specialist in transexualism. He said gender identity disorder isn't something people can change.

The majority of the public who spoke urged the commission to keep Stanton, including longtime Pinellas County School Board member Linda Lerner, who told the commission it had a "wonderful opportunity" to serve as an example for students by keeping Stanton.

But some speakers, including former Mayor Bob Jackson, said Stanton created a culture of fear.

"You need to listen to what the residents are telling you in Largo and they're telling you it's time for a change in city management," Jackson said.

Another resident said Largo's choice made "Largo the laughing stock of the whole country.

"We're a disgrace," said resident Jimmy Dean. "It seems a couple people here want to make Largo into a weirdo town."

Copyright © 2007 • St. Petersburg Times • All Rights Reserved

[Felicia Katt]

But in the end, commissioners said that they lost their trust in him and that he didn't meet the leadership standards he set for employees.

"I will tell you it is not about transgenderism," said Commissioner Gay Gentry. "It is about making sure that the 1,000 people who work in the city, work in such a way that they can give superior services for the 75,000 people who live in this city. I tried to vote the right way for the right reasons."

Riiiiiiigggggghhhhhhtttttt. Its not about transgenderism, but the only thing different between now, when he is being fired, and a few months ago, when he was being given a good review and a large raise, is that he was compelled to out himself as a transsexual

Commissioner Andy Guyette said honesty, integrity and trust were the foundations of their relationship with him and that "without trust, there is no longer a foundation to any relationship

.

They can't trust him because he didn't tell them he was transsexual, but when he told them, he was fired. So the only way he could keep their trust was to either not tell them, or not be a transsexual. But its not about transsexualism???

it appears they are within their rights to fire him, since they can do so without cause, and transgenders are sadly not protected by any antidiscriination laws. But if you are going to fire someone for wanting to lose their balls, at least show some of your own and admit thats why.

FK

[Caleigh]

bump

[Trogdor]

But in the end, commissioners said that they lost their trust in him and that he didn't meet the leadership standards he set for employees.

"I will tell you it is not about transgenderism," said Commissioner Gay Gentry. "It is about making sure that the 1,000 people who work in the city, work in such a way that they can give superior services for the 75,000 people who live in this city. I tried to vote the right way for the right reasons."

Riiiiiiigggggghhhhhhtttttt. Its not about transgenderism, but the only thing different between now, when he is being fired, and a few months ago, when he was being given a good review and a large raise, is that he was compelled to out himself as a transsexual

Commissioner Andy Guyette said honesty, integrity and trust were the foundations of their relationship with him and that "without trust, there is no longer a foundation to any relationship

.

They can't trust him because he didn't tell them he was transsexual, but when he told them, he was fired. So the only way he could keep their trust was to either not tell them, or not be a transsexual. But its not about transsexualism???

it appears they are within their rights to fire him, since they can do so without cause, and transgenders are sadly not protected by any antidiscriination laws. But if you are going to fire someone for wanting to lose their balls, at least show some of your own and admit thats why.

FK

It's pretty much people NEED to discriminate against SOMEONE.

Since they can't go after blacks, jews and, to an extend, gays, they are going after their only option left.....transgendered community.


Commissioner Gay Gentry: Well, since we can't go after them colored's or them jews anymore, and the fruits are gonna be protected too soon, let's go and git up after them he-she's now, YEHAAAAW! *dances to some banjo music*

THAT's pretty much what ol'e Gentry and the rest of the smeggin' commision are saying.

And anyone else find it ironic that his first name is Gay?

[BrendaQG]

Generally I am all for protection of people's right to work, at least in private sector and non-political public sector jobs. In those jobs what you do does not effect another persons life. Political jobs tend to be the ones where the person in them can exercise some governmental power. "city manager" is just such a job. That person in in effect the real "leg man" the driving force behind governing a city.



A political job like this has a different dimension. Makeing a law that would prevent a transgendered person from being fired from a job like "city manager" would infringe on the rights of the citizens of the city that they manage. If those citizens decide that they don't want a someone who is not representative of their values managing thier affairs then so be it. He (according to this stanton wishes to be called by male pronouns untill after transition)is paid with their tax dollars.

For that reason if such a strong anti discrimination law were passed, that could stop a community from choosing who would govern it, the law would probably be struck down by the supreme court. Just on principle alone the rights of the many outweigh the rights of the few or the one.

Private sector jobs like "bank manager" are a different story. The employer then is not a whole city of people who would have aspects of their life controlled by someone they find objectionable. Same goes for a non-political job like a mail carrier or Bus driver.

In stead of legislating that people tolerate us we should focus on creating a society where such laws will not be as necessary. On an emotional level what has happend to Mr Stanton sucks, and is even 100% illogical, but what could be done about it that would not disenfranchise 10's of thousands of people?

edited to add. An example of a group of society becomeing more tolerant without laws.. racial slurs and most religous bitory are faux pa. Look at TV and movies back in the 40's - 70's then look at how Michael Richards got lambasted for the use of the N-word. Legislation did not do that the civil rights movement won hearts and minds and that is more powerful than any law.