In 1905, Largo became the second town in the United States (and first in Florida) to have a city manager-style government. This remarkable civic achievement has now been joined by another. This week, "the City of Progress" also became the first town in Florida to fire its city manager, a man with a good track record, because of the announcement of his impending sex reassignment surgery.
According to the Associated Press, the city's commissioners claim that Steve Stanton, the city manager, was fired because "they lost confidence in him" and his announcement "caused turmoil and work disruption in the city." After all, how can the city's employees be expected to operate the Largo Public Works Claw Truck (seen here lifting a mattress) knowing that their city manager will soon become a woman?
This reprehensible incident illustrates the need for broad transgender rights legislation in the United States. In New York City, the passage of Intro. 24 in 2002 made it the largest jurisdiction in the United States to outlaw discrimination against transgendered people. As Largo city commisioners have shown, without laws to protect them, even transgendered people in the public eye aren't immune to blatant and malicious discrimination. Mary Jensen, a Largo resident, spoke out during the city's hearing: "I don't want the city of Largo to be the poster child for bigotry and discrimination."
Poor Mary. If only every day in Largo was Global Love Day.
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