Don't deceive me!

[Cheryl T]

While it is Helen's right to have her opinion (Religious or not) she only drives the bus, SHE DOESN'T OWN IT!
It's not within her job description or right to determine if someone rides her bus if they adhere to common decency and sensibility. So long as they are not flashers, carrying weapons, abusive and the like it's none of her business what someone wears or does.
Had I been that person I would have taken her name and promptly called her company to report her as well as call my lawyer and sue the company and her.

[AmberDay]

[B]

I won't called this person a friend. I would report it to your supervisor and let the chips fall where they fall. After all, isn't it your duty to report an employee that is way out of line?

I'm union and not allowed to report on another union member regardless of what is going on. The union would take away my membership and I MUST be in the union to drive...... so I would get fired.

[AmberDay]

Too bad that loud mouth crossdresser was not on Helen's bus that day instead of yours. That could have been a youtube moment for the ages! It is ironic if not sad, the loudmouth cd who you feared would give the community a black eye is not much of a threat compared to what this bus driver might have done to the ego of a transgender girl going out possibly for the last time. I hope this girl calls in, but if she felt embarrassed she may not, which means Helen will feel she won the battle and her intolerance will never be punished. Some folks have the right idea, load her bus up with folks from the transgender community both sides of the spectrum male to female and female to male.

Ditto! I hope she does call in, but we may never know.

[GaleWarning]

I FEEL your righteous indignation, sisters!

But I also feel for Helen.

Her livelihood is being threatened by an equally bigotted bunch of people, who should be thinking about how to educate her, rather than how to punish her.

No wonder the world is against us!

[bimini1]

Damm what an ASS. If fact, she gets the ASS of the week award for sure. But as long as there is a planet earth with people on it, the majority of them will feel just the way she does. You can try to educate all you want, it's not gonna change a dammed thang, you will ALWAYS run into people like this.

[GingerLeigh]

Even if she OWNED the bus, she would likely get into trouble. Being just an employee, she has absolutely NO right to do or say anything like that. Find better friends, she sounds like a bigoted loudmouth. People always slap the "what GOD wants" malarkey in there when they don't understand or feel threatened or as an excuse to impose their own sense of nutty values on others.

Ppppbh. As if ANYONE knows what god wants.

Ginger

[Brianna612]

I don’t know of any religious beliefs that tell you it's OK to put down and belittle others. I hate it when people use religion to justify their own hypocritical actions.

[STACY B]

Lucky OL Helen didn't come across some other trans person ,,,Maybe take her off the Bus an put some Medicine on um,,,, Keep that little smart azz from getting sore next time Big Mouth ? Betcha I know one fat biatch that would an could give her a little lesson in Manners ,,, Pull her pants down an spank her bottom Blue !!! LOL,,,,, Let her walk home sucking her thumb an dare her to take it out till she got home ,,,,LOL,,,,,

[Julie Gaum]

Lighten up folks --- doesn't anybody see the humor? Here is a bigot complaining to a CD that she doesn't like CDs! We're not going to change a bigot's opinion so let's get a good laugh out of the irony of it all.
Julie

[Brianna612]

I have to say this Amber. I have read a couple of your posts and I have to say as far as I am concerned you are a superstar in the TG community. Being a bus driver you have the unique opportunity to meet the full spectrum of human beings. From the top businessmen and women to the homeless and everything in between. It can be a daunting job to be respectful and polite to everyone. I can tell that you carry yourself with great poise. I need to tell you that you are a super benefit to the TG community. Thank you! Keep it up Girl.

[Beverley Sims]

Good for you trying to explain the situation, but do not inadvertently out yourself to someone so strong minded.

[DebbieL]

Depending on where this happened, Helen might have actually violated the law. Keep in mind that if your locality has an "Equial rights" amendment, or similar civil right law, attempting to humiliate or degrade someone publicly could be illegal. In many companies and organizations it's a termination offense. Being verbally abusive to someone because of their gender traits is actually a form of sexual harassment. Imagine if Helen were a guy named Roy, and the person getting on the bus was a woman wearing a short skirt, heels, and a well filled tight sweater. Suppose Roy started tirading that he didn't want some ***** / **** / trollop on his bus and that if she didn't behave EXACTLY the way HE wanted HER to behave, HE would THROW HER OFF THE BUS. The woman could probably sue the bus company, or could at least file a formal complaint against the driver, stating the time and route taken, and the bus company would probably have fired Roy on the spot.

Another Scenariou would be if a woman with short hair, baggy pants, men's clunky shoes, and a baggy sweater and coat that made her look like a man, and she spoke in a low voice. Now, suppose ROY demanded that this woman BEHAVE LIKE A WOMAN and NOT BE DECEPTIVE.

There are certain things that some transgendered women sometimes do that could result in justified outbursts of this type. For example, if the transgender went to the ladies' room and went standing up and talking in a full male voice. Or started peeping into the stalls of other women doing their business, or made lewd remarks to women while in the ladies room, or just spent too much time at the mirror looking at other women's bodies and faces rather than her own (Women notice this and it really bugs them). It would be like a guy walking into the men's room and looking over the top of the wall separating the urinals and making loud and verbial comparisons of size and performance. In some cases, these actions could legitimately get a transgendered or transsexual MtF labeled as a sex offender. The main difference is that a man who "blends in", or a woman who "blends in" can often get away with behaviour that SHOULD be criminal and actually IS criminal, but he is just written off as a jerk or a disgustingly macho a**.

Women who dress and act like men is actually quite common. Even if they aren't trying to "pass" as men, these women often dress, act, and sound more like men. They often gain extra weight, and they are often very aggressive, including sexually. But these "Tom Boys" are accepted because they are seeking the same power and status that men seek.

When a man wants to look, dress, and act like a woman, it's a threat to men, especially men who have their own sexuality issues with either preference or identity. Women often assume that these men are making fun of women, because they have seen or heard about drag queens, female impersonators, or entertainers who try to make a joke out of it. It doesn't help that many transgenders often make the mistake of not dressing situation appropriate. Wearing club-wear to a shopping mall makes ANY woman stand out, and most women initially assume that a woman who is dressed too sexy is probably a drag queen - then try to verify that assumption. About 75% of all women, by the time they reach their 30s, have been sexually abused, in one way or another. For them, seeing someone who is dressed up like she's ready to get it on with some stud in a club, and she's shopping at the Wal-mart or even a shopping mall with Sears and Penney's (not top end) just looks totally out of place. In fact, most WOMEN who attempt to do this in public would be harassed, they might even be accused of soliciting.

Many transsexuals who have to live 24/7 for at least 1 year before starting hormones and surgeries quickly learn to dress situation-appropriate, wearing less "sexy" clothing and less "revealing" clothing - and dressing more like the other women in her situation are dressing. They are also more aware of what they DON'T want to show, even if they have it.

Helen's story gives no indication of any behaivior that would have justified this type of outburst, and you might even have a legal obligation to report helen's inappropriate behavior - she might be harassing other customers who don't fit with her norrow-minded "Christian bigotry". Just because you are Christian, doesn't give you the right to harass, threaten, and physically or verbally assault someone - just because you have made inaccurate assumptions about them. In the name of Christianity, we have justified torture, rape, mass murder, genocide of native americans, slavery, kidnapping, and the halocaust. The sad thing is that there are some people in some parts of even the United States who STILL feel that they have the right to do terrible things to other people based on their ASSUMPTIONS about them.

[dallasmann]

Ask Helen if her response would be the same if you were a CD who stepped onto 'her bus'.

[bimini1]

Didn't some sales person in a Macy's a couple years ago get fired for refusing to sell women's clothes to a trans person? And she was talking about this same "my religion gives me not only the right, but the duty to act this way".

[sterling12]

If she tries to impose her religious views on A CUSTOMER, she will eventually be getting into a lot of trouble! And although The Union Stewart will go through The Process of filing a Grievance, I doubt there would be a leg to stand on. The Punishment's will initially be monetary, and if she keeps it up, could easily result in dismissal. I have no Doubt they have lots and lots of anti-discrimination policies, and she is sure to be violating many of them.

If you can do it, via The Suggestion Box or whatever, it might be time to suggest to management that some more sensitivity training should be implemented. If they get a feeling that The Corporate People are going to get serious about it, then they tend to grudgingly obey.

Peace and Love, Joanie

[Badtranny]

Bigotry isn't sad, it's pathetic. What IS sad is how frightened so many CD's are to claim their place in the world.

You know what the greatest thing about being out is? Being out.

I'm grateful every single day that I no longer have to pretend I'm not who I am.

[dallasmann]

Bigotry isn't sad, it's pathetic. What IS sad is how frightened so many CD's are to claim their place in the world.

You know what the greatest thing about being out is? Being out.

I'm grateful every single day that I no longer have to pretend I'm not who I am.

Not everyone has the same freedoms as everyone else and there's a myriad of reasons why that's true. This online resource allows me to be almost completely free in my mind, but my real world does not make such allowances, or rather, I have not been able to claim them all. In some ways, it's because I occupy so many points along the gender identity spectrum. I can absolutely understand why someone would not be able to accept that I'm sometimes this and sometimes that. For most people, even for those who are generally accepting of the CD/TV community, gender identity (which may include the roles some of us choose) isn't something that should be fluid. I wish I was as lucky as you are and wish everyone could even be as lucky as I have been.

[franlee]

Another hypocrite. I would bet she is standing there(or sitting) in a uniform that was designed for a man and is working in a job that was until the sexual reveloution a man's job. And then to hide her ignorance by justification on religious beliefs is proof that she is not only a hypocrite but simple minded. I don't know or care what denomination she is but when using the bible to justify your beliefs you must reserch that subject and weigh out the intire reasons for it's stance. I wont get into all that but I will say "Judge not least yee be judged." Acording to her standards you(whom ever) should have rebuked her representing a civil servant. And don't think for a second that a union will defend her in a law suit and your company can be held liable too, she is acting as their agent. I was a union rep. for years and can tell you now many of the members themselves just got their toes stomped too by this fanatic. And that's what unions depend on dues from the members and they don't like the bad publisity or members dropping out just to cover someone in the wrong.

[Sophia Claire]

I was well within my religious rights to put liars and deceivers off her bus.

Actually, as a public servant, she has no rights at all while on duty. She used religion to justify her ignorance and has no business interacting with the public if she is that in tolerant to different people or life styles. So when people of other religions get on her bus, does she also try to throw them off also?

Public service is a bitch, isn't it?

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Amber, You just can't fix STUPID!!!

[Debglam]

Hi Amber,

Another well written and well thought out post! I'm just sorry it is such a negative experience!

This woman is on extremely thin ice! Public transportation, public accommodations, lodging, etc. are held to a higher standard under the law. You just cannot discriminate like she did. The bus company would hugely liable. I would bet money that if this got to management she would be fired. You may want to let her know this.

Or just hit her on the head with a wiffle ball bat!

Debby

[donnalee]

Religious freedom allows us to believe in whatever God(s) or flavors thereof we like. Where the line is drawn is where we try to impose our beliefs on another. Postulating that there is a God, "(S)He made us as we are, & any complaints should be directed to the manufacturer." - Lenny Bruce

[ReineD]

I wonder if Helen thinks the Earth is 6,000 years old.

You can't argue with people like that. Thankfully, there aren't too many of them.

I hope.

[AmberDay]

I have to say this Amber. I have read a couple of your posts and I have to say as far as I am concerned you are a superstar in the TG community. I can tell that you carry yourself with great poise. I need to tell you that you are a super benefit to the TG community. Thank you! Keep it up Girl.

Thank you! Thank everybody! It is extremely draining being on the frontlines of transgender equality <equality for everybody actually>. But you are right, I am in the front and not only do I have the responsibility, but WE ALL have the responsibility to stand up and speak out when injustice is taking place. I have decided to write an anonymous email to our Union President and our Director and tell them about all the harassing comments that I hear, and about things that I have witnessed dealing with GBLT on our buses. I won't give out any names or dates or bus numbers, but will describe several instances that I have witnessed or heard drivers bragging about. I will inform them about concerns with my personal safety since I am afraid of what my coworkers will do when I start the transitioning process. I fear that it may come back to me though since I am vocal and challenge what people say; they would know it was from me. I fear for my safety. Unions aren't all that friendly towards members that rat. I am sick to my stomach as I keep editing my 'report'. I may try to mislead them by saying I am female to male to throw off their scent. I know what is right, but it still isn't easy. I don't know if anything will come of it, and maybe that there will be a memo put out about dealing with transgender with equality or sensitivity training. I am doing this for all who fall in the transgender spectrum. I will not stand by and do nothing.

Wish me luck! <says prayer, grabs rifle, climbs over trench and towards the battle>

Amber

[Chickhe]

You might do better my not being anonymous and making a complaint about her hostility in general towards passengers without highlighting the TG part. That way you can just say you feel like she's not creating a safe workplace. it will be her own big mouth that does her in and she will get the message.