on the brink of real change

A 25-year Special Forces veteran, who allegedly was rejected from a job after they learned she was transgender, gets her day in court.

“It’s been a bumpy road,” said Schroer after the trial, “but I’m glad I’m on it.”

Diane Schroer stepped foot in court Tuesday in a discrimination lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on her behalf. The ACLU says Schroer was refused a job at the Library of Congress researching terrorism after the library learned that Schroer is transgender.

“[They] said after a long and sleepless night, based on our conversation yesterday, we’ve determined you’re not a good fit. You’re not what we want,” said Schroer. The superviser testified she was stunned and worried that Schroer would become a distraction to colleagues, would lose her military contacts and above all, would jeopardize her security clearance.

“She has held, for 20 years, the highest level of security clearance and it has been renewed since she transistioned. There’s no issue with security clearance here,” said Matthew Coles with ACLU.

Schroer says the library violated a federal law’s ban on sex discrimination in employment practices. Title VII of the U.S. code of general and permanent laws may protect transgender people who are discriminated against because they do not conform to gender stereotypes.

About 15 years ago (jeebus I’m getting old) I was home visiting, and at a dinner party, from the other end of the table, my Dad started in on what he thought was a hilarious story about a young lawyer he had hired who subsequently began to grow out his hair and wear earrings, and then makeup. Soon after, the young man approached my father, who was the firm’s managing partner, about legally changing his name. He explained that he was transitioning from male to female.

My father’s response? I was not in the room at the time, but I’m sure it was a short period of stunned silence and then a request for time to consult with the partners. Soon after, the young lawyer was asked to tender her resignation. And my Dad found all this very funny.

At the dinner party that night, I was the turd in the punchbowl who had the temerity to ask why this was funny. Granted, my Dad did grow up a very sheltered Catholic who even at age 50 had a very hard time believing all of the obvious signs that his law partner was screwing the help – that sort of thing just didn’t happen in Dad’s orbit. But I couldn’t just laugh along with the rest. And I’m proud to say that my now Democratic Dad would probably react differently today.

I have never understood the need some people have to segregate themselves from others who are different, and ironically I probably have my parents to thank for that, at least in part. That we are fifteen years past that point and it is still necessary for transgendered and gay people to fight for their rights is enormously frustrating and disheartening.

But with more and more Americans approving of gay marriage, and with my son’s generation seemingly oblivious to sexual preference and color, we are moving in the right direction.

So keep your fingers crossed for Diane Schroer, and the win that would bring hope to all Americans who don’t quite fit the Tupperware mold.

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