namjah - 27 February 2007 10:56 PM

The Mayor of Largo was on tonight, making an impassioned speech in support of Mr. Stanton. I hope he gets to stay.

As for you, michaelajv, I will say this: I was merely expressing what I felt was the tone of cyndiann’s posts (here and elsewhere). Then you use that to attack me. How about YOU stay on topic, and don’t make backhanded slaps at me. Did I mention you when I talked about making false statements? No. That’s something YOU apparently assumed. Looks to me like you read too much into it.

I too was merely expressing what I felt about your tone to certain posts.

I assumed nothing.  I never said or thought that you were accusing ME of falsehoods.  Your comment was that you applauded a poster for exposing falsehoods.  My question to you was, falsehoods according to whom… you?

These blogs are nothing but peoples’ opinions.  I’d be careful about calling people liars if I were you, or anyone else!

i personally believe firing this man is opening themselves up to many ,many repercussions… his sexuality and gender never EVER effected his position prior to this information coming out, so we should ask our selves… why should it now? It shouldn’t. As long as he conducts his job as he has for the last decade and a half i think the city of Largo has nothing to worry about. They (other commissioners), are acting as though he’s been lying this whole time. He hasn’t been lying, no one asked so he never told. He was struggling inside himself i’m sure he still is and they are crucifying him for it. This is the very reason I’m sure he never said anything before. He knew this hysteria would be the reaction. THEY DO NOT NEED TO FIRE STANTON!

What happened to civil rights in this country?  One Baptist minister doesn’t like this man’s plans for a sex change operation and the rest of us have to listen.  Leave the guy alone.  This is his choice.  Are we or are we not still a free country?  His decision has nothing to do with his ability to do his job as City Manager.  Firing him is discrimination, pure and simple and I hope he sues the city of Largo til the cows come home.  Shame on all of you!

Thomassav7 - 27 February 2007 09:25 PM

Some thing that all of you better realize, and call us what you want.....Us Gays/Lesbians are not going away.  We are here to stay!  Get used to it and get over it!

To my Gay and Lesbian family, keep fighting every chance you get.  Everyday gets better!

Does wanting a sex change operation make you gay?  I don’t think so.  I’m glad you’re all for this guy making this decision but it doesn’t make him gay.  He’s just not happy with the way he is now.  He’s not gay dude.

To the Largo City Commission,

Thank you for having the COURAGE to make the right decision.

Many, many people are behind your decision.

I am no lawyer and am not very sensitive to minority issues,some might even call me a bigot as well,which has some truth to it,but the city of largo with be cutting this man a six figure check if they choose to follow through with his firing,and I would expect more from people who answer to the public.

Gosh, this is worse than Anne Nicole Smith...leave him alone and let him be.  People need to get a life. Its 2007.....hello!!!

So what the Largo City Council is saying by firing Steve Stanton is that if three years from now Susan Stanton applied for this job they wouldn’t hire her?  As long as the job is being done at the same high level of effectiveness what is the issue?  I understand they feel they’ve been hurt & betrayed.  How do they think he feels after tonights meeting.  People that I’m sure he thought were friends and close collegues have turned their back on him.  What a superficial world we live in.

I feel so sorry for Stanton and his wife and son.  IF he had not married and had a child, and he had chosen to become a woman, and he had become the city manager, then it would be a different issue.
But what has happened is the entire community is put in an uncomfortable position where what different people may feel about the whole thing, are directly and indirectly personally affected.

Obvously this thing takes such a priority over his family, his marriage, his child and if follows: his carreer.  personal choices and being free to make them also mean personal consequences and having to live with them. Maybe he will have a second thought about what he is doing.  Maybe God is trying to tell him something...like STOP!

While I don’t agree with the decision of the board, I can certainly understand it. After serving for so long as a man, I guess the board felt it would be too much of a distraction to have him continue on after his surgery. They did give him a nice severence.

Congrats City of Largo.  The small minded religious koooks win again.  Once again, the tolerant and forgiving Christians stumble over themselves and cast stones at obviously a man in emotional turmoil.  Never mind the fact that he has been a competent and effective city manager and no-one has had a complaint about him prior to the transgender issue coming to light.  Instead of being typical small town and small minded politicians who always React to a situation but never Anticipate anything, they should have given him a 6 month probationary period to prove that his cross dressing and eventual surgery would not conflict with his civic duties.  If he survived the probie period, then he keeps his job.  If he has any problems ( other than small minded biggots writing letters and hate mail to him), then he is terminated at that point.
I hope the city gets its arse sued now for some type of discrimination bias.  Of course, the city has also proudly voted down the civil rights legislation a few years ago as well so I am not holding my breath.

Thanks, Largo!!

You make us look like a garden spot.
Enjoy your new status as worst place in Pinellas County.

Sincerely,
Pinellas Park

In regards to City Manager “Steve Stanton” and the
recent action imposed upon him by the “Incompetency
of the Largo City Commissioners”................................

My heart and soul go out to this individual, for the pain,
disappointment and devastation this action, I believe, will and no doubt has, effected
his belief in the morality amongst men, for years to come.

This is a travesty of justice and typical ignorance running rampant.
Steve Stanton, irregardless of his personal choices, has proven
that he is more than capable of fulfilling all that is required
to perform this job.

This is pathetic and pitiful.....that people who trusted in the leadership
and performance of such person in the past, now stand in judgement of
this person, oozing prejudice and discrimination.

What has this country come to and why is honesty being punished,
when the only reason this should or would happen is due to dissatisfaction
of job performance or other legal related issues.

HOW SAD IS THIS STATE OF AFFAIR THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE DISPLAYING
AND OUR COUNTRY “The Land of The Free” DOES NOT ALLOW THESE TYPE
OF FREEDOMS, without repercussion that is, ...........Resulting in this pathetic
display of ignorance at it’s best.

So Sad, My heart goes out to you Steve Stanton .... and May God Continue
to Bless Thee with the BEST yet to come.....

Most Sincerely, Elinor

Largo just passed up an opportunity to make their city look progressive and forward thinking.  What a bunch of idots in that City Commission. 

I’m gay and I think transexulaism is wierd but why should anyone judge someone else.  What you do with your life is your perogative.  As long as you can can do your job that’s all that should matter..even if it is a man in a dress.

This is 2007...my god...how can people still be so close minded. 

And to all of you homophobes.  You really need to understand that homosexulaity is not a choice any more that your heterosexuality is.  Why don’t you do some real research or talk to gay people and you’ll find the truth.  Your ministers are leading you down a path of hate.  Jesus never spoke of homosexulaity or transexualism so how can you speak for him or god.  Who are you to dictate morality in our world?  So many so called evangelical christians are closet cases themselves because of family and church pressure...they are hypocrits.  It also amazes me that people who preach family values (born again christians) also have the highest divorce rates in the country.  Hmmmmm...that’s not family values is it!!!! 

I have been gay for as long as I can remember and all the hate I see here makes me want to fight for gay, lesbian, and transgender rights even more.  Accpet people for who they are, don’t hate.  Don’t be afraid of what you don’t understand.  It’s time from progress in this country.

Remember the saying “If not for the grace of God, there go I.” I used to have a lot of trouble with this issue.  Now after a few years of thinking about it, and working with someone after their sex change; I see these are just people like you and me.  Not monsters.  For some reason, their genetic make up is off.  You & I cannot possibly understand what they go through because our genetic makeup is normal.  So I withhold my judgement & leave that to the good Lord.  I have heard of studies that show counseling does not always help.  To grow up in a male body all of your life; but feel female inside must be horrible. Or vice versa.  I feel nothing but sympathy for him & his family.  I also believe that this has nothing to do with how he performs his job.  It is no different than anyone else going through something traumatic like death of loved ones, divorce or terminal illness; and still working while they go through that valley.