Discrimination in the Workplace - your thoughts . . .

[litAKAtor]

My mother and I recently had a conversation about the rights of transgendered people in the workplace and whether they are entitled to the same rights under the anti-discrimination statutes as men, women, and other protected categories. Our conversation stemmed from the recent firing of a City Manager by the City Commission in a city very close to where I live. The City Manager (who presently is a man) revealed in a news conference that he has been participating in pre-operative hormonal therapy in preparation for his pending sex change. He had plans to return as a woman, I am supposing within the next couple of months. The City Commission terminated his contract and he was fired. The reason for the termination: his status as a transgendered person, and according to the Commission, their lack of trust in his judgment. I should note that the only reason he said anything is because one of the city workers found out about the pending operation and began spreading rumors.

My mom and I had a long debate on whether the firing was appropriate . . I wanted to get the thoughts of people who are my contemporaries. Any thoughts???