CALL HIM/HER SUSAN!

"Susan" finalist as Sarasota City Manager 'Susan' Stanton By: Mike Deeson Tuesday morning update: This morning, the Sarasota City Commission voted Susan Stanton as one of six finalists for the City Manager job. The rest of the story: Washington, D.C. - Susan Stanton was the toast or at least the toaster of the town Monday night in Washington. As Stanton and the largest group of transgender people prepared to lobby Congress, she was jokingly given a toaster as part of her transition. But the fired Largo city manager is here for a serious purpose. People get fired because of the gender identification every day, you just don't hear about it. And that's why Stanton says she felt compelled to come to Capitol Hill not just for herself but for all transgender people. She says she hopes to convince Congress that people who change sex should not be forced to change jobs. The fact is they can there is no specific federal provision that says you can't fire someone because they are changing their name on the resume. Stanton knows that first hand and believes commissioners reacted to pressure from organized opposition. The normal deliberative process that commissioners use and decision making was put aside and people started reacting from their gut and not their head. And that vote shocked Stanton, who believes the citizens would have voted to give her a chance as Susan instead of summarily firing her. She says she never thought it would end as it did in Largo. And while Stanton never thought she would lose her job for becoming Susan, she also won't look back. And when Stanton talks to Florida's congressional delegation, she hopes to have an impact with lawmakers that go far beyond largo and far beyond Florida. Tampa Bay's 10 News Source: http://www.tampabays10.com/printfullstory.aspx?storyid=54836