Stanton carefully built 'circle of trust'

[LostInTime]

The Largo city manager began revealing to other officials in 2003 that he is transsexual.

"I am a transsexual," he said. "Now maybe you can understand why I am somewhat silent on the human relations ordinance."

"Oh, God," Burke said. "Honest to God, I thought you were going to tell me you were gay.

"This doesn't change how I feel about you as a city manager, as a person and as a friend."

Burke was the first official - and one of the first people other than Stanton's wife - to know that he was a transgender person.