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In Dear Abby's column today (05/27 - second item) "Nervous in Northern California" asked if she should tell her employer that a person that she had already recommended for a job is transgendered. Check out Abby's answer: http://www.arcamax.com/dearabby/s-551129-469043
Edited 05/28/09 9:13 AM CDT - Updated link
Comments
Almost, but not quite
I was about to cheer her on, but then Abby had to screw it up by adding the "Schools do their own background checks." While very true it seems like she added that so that the girl would feel absolved in the end.
So I'm of two minds about the message she just sent.
It's almost like, "Yeah the school should know." contradicting what she previously said. Maybe I'm just reading too much into it. Meh.
Lili
http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
~Lili
Write the story that you most desperately want to read.
Crystal Clear To Me & Kudos To Abby!
The writer is basically asking if she should "out" her friend. Some friend...
Anyway, this is one of those few cases where the younger Abby seems to give a superlative answer:
She's saying STFU and MYOB! How much clearer could a person be? Kudos to Abby, not only for an assertive answer to the writer, but for putting things in perspective for the public. She's saying we need to start judging people on their fitness and competence to do their job, and not on distracting nonsense which is totally irrelevant.
I give Abby an A++ for that answer!
I Was Offended By Her Ending Statement
I was offended by her ending statement that seemed to imply that Transgendered people are a danger to children the same way pedophiles are. This same insinuation was made by my brother and sister-in-law with regards to me spending time with my nephew. It sickens me that she would continue to perpetuate this myth instead of using this to educate the woman. I hope she gets a deluge of mail from members of our community as well as Gender Therapists.
Danger
I didn't read it that way. I read it as: Since jobs with children have to be background checked, by law, they will find out eventually.
I can't see where pedophiles have anything to do with anything in her statement.
I used to work with children. I had a background check performed on me. They check your criminal background. That's about it. It's to make sure they aren't hiring felons to care for your children, a very smart precaution. Some places might preform credit checks as well.
So unless you've taken part in a felony crime involving a T-related issue, they shouldn't be able to find out. Even then, it would be noted as the crime itself and not have any details, If they wanted details then they'd have to go pull up the court case, which most simple background checks do not do.
http://lilithlangtree.tglibrary.com/
~Lili
Write the story that you most desperately want to read.
Probably a Space Thing...
...but that sentence was omitted from the San Francisco Chronicle's version of the column. I wonder in which Northern California newspaper the letter-writer reads it?
Eric
URL expired sometime during the night,
Here is a new one to the archived version.
http://www.arcamax.com/dearabby/s-551129-469043
I found the full text
I found the full text here:
http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/?uc_full_date=20090527
Not really sure what to think about this.
----
May the Stars Light Your Path
Maid Joy
http://joyphillip.tglibrary.com/
Eye of the Beholder
Lots of great comments. My local newspaper had an edited version of Nervous in Northern California's question. I thought it was worth sharing here and went and found it (a more complete version as it turned out) and posted the link. I know that background checks are limited and would be unlikely to reveal that anyone is transgender. I expect Jeanne Phillips (Abby) knows that too. The message I got from Abby was "It doesn't matter that she's transgender" maybe not perfectly delivered, but still (to me) a very positive if not perfectly delivered message.