Diane Schroer Wins ... and so do we

Go Diane!!



Diane has been fighting to keep her job at the Library of Congress as a terrorism research analyst. The job that was offered to her and then taken away when they found out she was, well, who she was. You see, she went into her job interview as David but she was in transition. When she was offered the job she told them that she would be coming to work as Diane. The next day the offer was rescinded.

Here is an excerpt of her profile:

"Diane Schroer is not one to shrink from a challenge. As an Airborne Ranger qualified Special Forces officer, the 49-year-old veteran completed over 450 parachute jumps, received numerous decorations including the Defense Superior Service Medal, and was hand-picked to head up a classified national security operation. But when she retired as a Colonel after 25 years of distinguished service in the Army, she faced one of her biggest challenges yet: coming out to her friends and family as a transsexual woman."
http://www.aclu.org/lgbt/transgender/12255res20050602.html#profile

Diane and the ACLU have fought a long hard battle, and they have won.

After winning she said this,

"It is especially gratifying that the court has ruled that discriminating against someone for transitioning is illegal," said Schroer in a statement from the ACLU, which represented her in court.

"I knew all along that the 25 years of experience I gained defending our country didn't disappear when I transitioned, so it was hard to understand why I was being turned down for a job doing what I do best just because I'm transgender. It is tremendously gratifying to have your faith in this country, and what is fundamentally right and fair, be reaffirmed."
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/19/transsexual.discrimination/index.html

and this

She added, "I hope, too, that employers, family members, friends and co-workers will begin to understand variations in sexual orientation and identity from a basis of knowledge and not fear."
http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/Health/story?id=5843396&page=1

This is good news! Thank you Diane. Thank you for putting yourself out there and not giving up. Thank you for being willing to take the fall but keeping the faith. Thank you for ... everything.