Posted on 12/16/2004 12:10:14 PM PST by freespirited
Amanda Simpson was recognized last week by the YWCA as one of a dozen local Women on the Move.
That's more than a personal accomplishment for the 43-year-old senior principal systems engineer at Raytheon Missile Systems. It's also a personal victory, since Simpson is a transgendered woman who very publicly allowed the media to recount her transition from Mitchell Simpson four years ago.
"To say that I was absolutely thrilled is a bit of an understatement," Simpson said. She was selected from a pool of 89 finalists for the award, which gives the nod to women who are committed to the elimination of racism and the empowerment of women.
When Simpson was introduced at the awards banquet, the audience heard about her accomplishments at Raytheon, her recent bid for the state House of Representatives and her volunteer work in the community. She was also singled out as "an example of courage" for being open about her transition and becoming a nationally known speaker on gender issues in employment - openness worth recognizing when anonymity can be easier.
Linda Breck, director of leadership development for the YWCA, met Simpson at YWCA leadership conferences and planning committees. "She is very professional. She's certainly committed to the mission of the YWCA," Breck said. "She's very reliable and has great ideas. But she's really being recognized for her activism in the community and for taking a leadership role."
Kent Burbank, executive director of Wingspan, the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community resource center, said he gives the YWCA credit for issuing the award. It came on the heels of the "moral values" debate launched following the national elections, when voters in 11 states banned gay marriage at the polls.
Simpson's award, he said, makes a larger statement. "It's a wonderful achievement for her personally, but it's also an important thing for the transgender community that a transgendered woman be recognized as a woman," Burbank said.
But, as Simpson can attest, while she went public to help erase the stigma that can follow gender transitions, it isn't always easy having an adjective following her everywhere - something this very story is perpetuating.
"To some extent, yes, I wish when someone mentioned that I was the first transgendered person to win a (state) primary in the United States, I wish that wasn't true. I wish I didn't have to be the trailblazer. Someday, I won't have to be, because it will be completely accepted, but until then, I can't let harassment and biases continue unchallenged.
"Why should I not do things that I'm interested in?" Simpson continued. "Should I not get involved in politics or not work with nonprofits because of my past? And the answer to that is 'No' - I'm going to pursue things that interest me."
Simpson said she is noticing more tolerance. She won a similar award from Raytheon three years ago, and there was some grumbling then, she said, since it came so soon after her transition. But with the exception of some news accounts during her legislative campaign, Simpson said, the focus of the race was on important issues - health care, education, the economy - and not her transgenderism.
Ultimately, even though she had limited funding as a Democrat running against two popular incumbents in a district with a Republican advantage, she still collected 21 percent of the vote - a respectable showing since she trailed the second-place winner, an incumbent, by only seven percentage points.
"I'm not in people's faces. I'm challenging discrimination by saying, 'This is who I am and this is what I do.' All I ask is to be accepted for my qualities and judged on that basis."
Something I have always wondered....does the operation also change the male proclivity to pass gas?
As a female raytheon employee, this bugs me. I've had to work with male idiots older than my father who assume I was hired for a quota, rather than for an engineering GPA and working my way through school. I can think of individuals with XX chromosomes who deserve this award more.
Unfortunately, Raytheon is gung-ho on diversity awards and diversity training. Fortunately, it isn't mandatory. I skipped the GLBT fiasco at work last week.
The YWCA signaled its direction when it hired Patricia Ireland as CEO. Of course it has since fired her, but the fact that it ever hired her speaks volumes.
Hmm...looks better than a lot of Democrat women who were born female (Janet Reno, Helen Thomas...etc).
Lynn Conway ping.
True enough.
Actually, male pattern baldness won't happen. Since Mitchell had his jewels lopped off, there's no longer enough DHT in his/her body to cause baldness.
Headline:
"Man who lost his missle works at missle factory."
LMAO!
I wonder what level of security clearance this man has and if his sexual disorder was taken into account in determining his security clearance.
UGH!!! Scrub brain out with soap and water tonight...
That's excellent. I wish I could top it. I'm sure somebody here can. Go Guys or girls or whatever!!
DNA would indentify Amanda as a male. Is that a Hate Crime?
She's better looking than most democrat talking heads, that's for sure!
What is amazing is she actually won the democratic primary.
And the Democrats wonder why there office holders seem to be shrinking.
I believe we could have ignored the "rule" in this instance.
You don't even know what you are talking about, even from a surgical standpoint.
So what you're telling us is that there IS a cure for baldness which means it's not in your genes but in your jeans.
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