Firing Discriminatory, Says Transsexual Mariner (Can't Tell Port From Starboard)

Dust My Broom ^ | October 5, 2005 | Staff

[Loyalist]

VANCOUVER — A transsexual who was fired by B.C. Ferries last year after she confused “starboard” and “port” and steered a ship in the wrong direction has accused the company of discrimination, saying she was held to a higher standard than other employees because of her sex.

Deborah Magnone filed a complaint with the B.C. human rights tribunal and yesterday, the tribunal rejected a bid by B.C. Ferries to have the complaint dismissed. That means the case will proceed to a public hearing, unless the parties can resolve the matter.

Magnone, who was hired as a casual deckhand on May 25, 2004, has admitted she misinterpreted an order to turn to starboard and instead turned to port while working as a quartermaster and steering a vessel Sept. 12, 2004, but said the mistake was minor.

Magnone also admitted she made another mistake the next day and steered a vessel contrary to the captain’s order. Magnone was on probation as a new employee at the time.

Magnone, who told the tribunal she’s been a mariner for years and has extensive skill and training, admitted the incidents occurred but said she believed the ship’s captain, Peter Woo, was generally satisfied with her work.

“It is Ms. Magnone’s belief that her work was considered acceptable until B.C. Ferries became aware of her former sexual identity,” the tribunal’s summary says.

[thoughtomator]

Let me give you a little clue. Transsexuality is a serious mental illness, a desperate cry for attention, wanting to be "special" so badly that self-mutilation is no barrier. It is not something to be accepted, it is something to be ridiculed so as to deter others from engaging in perverted behavior. The denial of one's own nature is not something to be proud of - it is a serious obstacle to any real happiness in life.

(Aside... there are true hermaphrodites out there to whom the above does not apply - manufactured ones however don't count.)

Man and woman are concepts so basic, so inherent to humanity that those who cannot come to grips with them have no business telling everyone else that such insanity should be tolerated.