Atlanta Transgender Woman Fired by State Official
Atlantan Vandy Beth Glenn was paid by the State of Georgia to check and change the language in state law. But when she examined her own life and determined that she had Gender Identity Disorder, her changes were not approved by her bosses. Now the transgender woman is suing the state in federal court for firing her, with the help of Lamda Legal.
Vandy Beth Glen
Glenn worked for two years in the Georgia General Assembly’s Office of Legislative Counsel, editing and proofreading the language of bills brought before state lawmakers. After years of private struggle, Glenn was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) and prepared to undergo gender transition. Glenn informed her immediate supervisor, Beth Yinger, that she planned to proceed with her transition from male to female last year. Yinger then told the General Assembly’s Legislative Counsel, Sewell Brumby, who runs the office where Glenn worked. Brumby confirmed that Glenn intended to transition from male to female, then fired her on the spot, according to information released by Lambda Legal.
Lambda Legal’s announced its intent to sue on behalf of Glen yesterday. The federal lawsuit asserts that Glenn was fired in violation of the Constitution’s equal protection guarantee, because it treated her differently due to her female gender identity and her nonconformity with gender stereotypes. In addition, Lambda Legal says that General Assembly officials disregarded Glenn’s GID and her needed treatment — also an equal protection violation.
“The leaders of the state of Georgia should be an example of fair–mindedness and ethical decision-making,” said Cole Thaler, Transgender Rights Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office based in Atlanta. “Our client was a successful and professional employee who was fired because her boss didn’t like who she is.”
Glen’s case will be handled by Cole Thaler, Transgender Rights Attorney and Greg Nevins, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney in Lambda Legal’s Southern Regional Office in Atlanta.
“We should expect more from the leaders of our state than to fire me simply for being who I am,” Glenn said.
Yes, we should. But we would only be disappointed. It’s not surprising that the Georgia General Assembly’s treatment of its employees is just as intolerant as its treatment of LGBT Georgians in general.
See resources for the transgender community on our Transgender Info and Resources page.
Sphere: Related Content
July 24th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
An update: On a story on Channel 2 Action News at Noon today, the reasons for Glen’s firing were more specifically reported. According to the report, Glen was told that her gender transition is “immoral” and “would make other employees uncomfortable.” Again LGBT Georgians pay the price for the ignorance and intolerance of others.
July 26th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
[...] and her presence in the office would make other employees “uncomfortable.” (Read my post on Glen’s firing for more detail.) But it’s not just Georgia suffering from summer homophobia and transphobia. [...]