Victory for transgender former teacher
Monday, September 09, 2013
Sarah Wallace
Eyewitness News

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news%2Finvestigators&id=9241977

NEW YORK (WABC) -- 60-year-old Marla Krolikowskii, formerly known as Mark, was fired after 32 years in October, 2012 as a teacher at St. Francis Catholic high school in Queens. She claims it was because she declared she is transgender, that the then vice principal called her worse than gay.

"It's terrible. They robbed me of dignity and livelihood I loved," said Krolikowski.

School officials refused to speak to Eyewitness News on Monday.

"She was fired for appropriate non-discriminatory reasons. She was insubordinate," said St. Francis Prep Attorney Phil Semprevivo.

However, Andrew Kimler, Krolikowskii's attorney said that there was no insubordination, and that the insubordination was that she was transgender.

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We've previously reported on this story in News > Education.

Marla Krolikowskii, Transgender Catholic School Teacher, Receives Legal Victory (VIDEO)
James Nichols, The Huffington Post, Sep 11, 2013

Marla Krolikowskii, a transgender Catholic high school teacher whose 32-year employment was allegedly terminated after being called "worse than gay" by a school administrator, received a major victory in court this week.

Krolikowskii reportedly filed suit against St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens, N.Y after school officials allegedly fired the teacher following her coming out. According to the above video, school officials claimed that she was fired for insubordination, despite the fact that her termination strongly paralleled her coming out as transgender.

On Monday, a judge reportedly rejected the school's motion to have the case thrown out and strongly suggested that the opposing parties settle the lawsuit, according to ABC.


Edited format and to keep under 200 words

Thanks Amelia!

You're welcome.

Amy

School:  You may not transition.
Teacher:  But I'm transsexual.  I have to.
School:  That's insubordination!

Marla Krolikowski, a former New York Catholic teacher who was fired for being transgender or "worse than gay," received a major victory in court Monday after Judge Duane Hart rejected the defense's claims... that she was fired for being insubordinate.

She was fired last year after a parent at the school filed a complaint with the administrators about her appearance.

A petition on Change.org, titled "St. Francis Preparatory High School: Formally Apologize to Mark (Marla) Krolikowski for Sexual Discrimination," has amassed, at current time of writing, 14,173 signatures... The level of support for Marla has been strong as evident through the comment section of the petition.

The two sides will need to reach an agreement until October 23, where the case will be decided by Judge Hart and create a legal precedent if there is no agreement.

http://my.firedoglake.com/brandonj/2013/09/12/judge-grants-victory-for-former-teacher-in-transgender-related-case/