Former Largo, Fla. city manager Steve Stanton recently announced he will not sue the city for firing him after he revealed he is transgender and will begin living life as “Susan.”

“It is tempting to seek retribution in the courts, but after much reflection and soul searching, I just cannot find it within my heart to sue Largo – a city I have always and will always love. I do not want to punish the citizens of Largo,” Stanton said in a release.

As reported by the Associated Press and on page 26 of this week’s issue of the Gay & Lesbian Times, the Largo City Commission voted 5-2 in February and again in March to fire Stanton from the $140,000-a-year job he held for 14 years. One of five commissioners who voted to fire Stanton said his management style, not his lifestyle, led to the dismissal.

Almost 500 people packed Largo City Hall to debate whether Stanton/Susan should remain the city’s top official, according to a previous report by AP, with a majority calling for his ouster.

“If Jesus was here tonight, I can guarantee you he’d want him terminated,” said Pastor Ron Saunders of Largo’s Lighthouse Baptist Church. “Make no mistake about it.”

Fortunately, in California we no longer govern by asking, “What would Jesus do?” and instead have laws that protect against this kind of discrimination.

Signed into law by former California Gov. Gray Davis, the Gender Non-Discrimination Act of 2003 prohibits discrimination in housing and employment based on gender identity and expression. According to the Human Rights Commission, only a handful of other states, including Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico and Rhode Island have similar legislation. Courts and administrative agencies in five additional states – Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – and the District of Columbia have interpreted either their sex or disability discrimination statutes to protect transgender people in some circumstances.

If Stanton had chosen to use this opportunity to call Largo to task for firing him, could Florida have been next?

Taking on this legal battle against the city of Largo might not be the transition that Stanton had in mind, but this is Florida’s – and Susan’s – chance to ensure transgender people are legally protected from discrimination, regardless of their gender identity.

Susan’s case is unique in that her firing has captured national attention, and human rights groups are lining up to denounce such a clear example of injustice. With this kind of momentum and support, Florida’s got a shot.

The issue here isn’t retribution; it’s equality: The American gay rights movement is not attributed to having been founded by any one person. Our history is that of thousands of individuals all taking their own very personal stands against oppression and inequality. It’s the cumulative efforts of these heroes – both sung and unsung – that has propelled our movement forward, and we believe Susan has an obligation to rise to the occasion.

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