Discussion needed on transgender rights
Joseph Turco
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/OPINION/806180315/1197/rssRegarding the Keith Eddings article on Saturday, "Legislators' drag show riles transgenders," I'm willing to take the legislators at their word and assume that their silly behavior as part of a performance for senior citizens at the Polish Community Center in Yonkers was not intended to offend, but I also hope we can use this misunderstanding to have a discussion about transgender rights.
Here's why - I came of age as a lawyer right here in the Hudson Valley handling employment discrimination cases. One of my first cases involved a worthy and competent transgendered professional who was terminated simply because of her personal lifestyle, but the matter never even made it to a jury because her status was not expressly protected by the statute. That's why Legislators Ken Jenkins and Vito Pinto are wrong when they say existing law protects the transgendered. Judges just don't always see it that way.
