This is what I wrote as a myspace bulletin... see if you think this is funny...
As some of you may or may not know, I of all people, was offended about a comment said to me at work during this past weekend. Yes, we all know that I joke around quite frequently with everyone and I am very sarcastic. This comment made to me went way over the line for the following reason: it described ME dieing. No matter how much we all may joke around at work, it is unacceptable to wish death or harm to anyone, whether it be joking or in serious. The person who said this to me I actually really liked as a person and even though we had a good time all day up until then, there is no way that I can let the following statement made to me go by the wayside in ANY capacity:
"wouldn't it be funny if we saw you swinging back and forth from a tree with a rope around your neck?"
Think what you will about what I say or what I do, but at work this is an unacceptable statement, and is very unbecoming of an employee who works for our company, and if we let this type of statement be ok to say, then what does it open the door up to? Well, a lot, to put it simply.
I was also verbally assaulted in the parking lot at work after this happened when I was going home and almost purposely ran into by this person's vehicle. (I was at a stop sign and when I was getting ready to go, he pulled around from behind me and was driving beside me and then pulled right in front of me)
To this end, I will do everything in my power to make sure that this kind of hateful speech and intimidation is never again allowed at our location, starting with MYSELF. I will be the first to take initiative that we have ALL taken things way too far, myself included. Everything I say I mean as a joke, but I don't want to ever hear about someone hanging by a noose. It immediately set me back 10 years back to Matthew Shephard.
I will make my voice loud and clear on what was said and the actions taking during and after the above quote was said. It was never personal until I was cursed at in the parking lot and now I feel my security at the workplace threatened for standing up for what I think is right to have reported. I will not be joking around for the duration of my time at this location just to set the example, but I want to make it clear that I would never describe the death or intentional harm of another person in joke or in seriousness.
So despite what you may hear around the location, this is how I feel about it and while I am a full supporter of free speech, this is unacceptable at the work place. Say what ever you want to outside of work because I sure will, but this will not be tolerated where I work. And this issue will be dealt with swiftly or the company will be unhappy to see this incident being sent over to every news company I can send it to.
If you have any question, please feel free to contact me. And remember, this is not a vendetta against this individual. This is to show that this type of hate-speech will not be tolerated at work and I refuse to feel insecure at the workplace and its surroundings. Thanks for your time.
I am constantly appauled by people here in Florida, namely the aging die-hard Christian base, but this is just a new level of discrimination. This case of Gender Discrimination in Largo, FL is absolutely astounding and it makes me sad inside. This man has a 14-year positive record of service for this community. He announces he is finally undergoing gender reassignment and all of a sudden he is a bad person and underqualified? What in the hell is going on down here in Florida? I am hearing reports that at a town meeting, one man said loosely that if Jesus were there, he would want him terminated. Now what has happened to separation of church and state? Has George W. Bush taken away so many first amendment rights from us that local officials now also feel the need to do it too? This turning a blind eye has go to stop and it has to stop NOW while this country is still a democracy. This man should still be employed and still be doing the job he was doing. If he wants to switch to a woman/man/whatever, that does not affect his ability to perform civic duties. Just someone please explain to me where Jesus said "I want the tranny termed because I don't think it's cool." I need some real guidance here because I, not even transgendered, feel a deep sadness within when people are discriminated against and targetted for no reason other than the fact that this town has a bunch of IGNORANT people in it who need to catch up with the times, invest in technology, and open their eyes to the world around them. No longer is the information one sided: It's called the internet; it's here to stay; learn from it what you've not been told all of these years and let people be who they want to be!!!!!
