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Creep of the Week: Robert E. Jackson

When Steve Stanton, former city manager of Largo, Florida, announced in February his intention to transition to a woman, the City Commission voted 5-2 to fire him. He was, according to them, no longer capable of doing the job he'd held for 14 years. According to the Associated Press, commissioners said it was Stanton's judgment, not the sex change revelation that prompted the votes.

Correspondent Rob Riggle on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart April 17 interviewed former Largo Mayor Robert E. Jackson. The interview began with Jackson saying, "Stanton was fired because people lost trust in him. Transgender had nothing to do with it."
The rest of the interview, however, told another story entirely.
Riggle threw out a hypothetical scenario. "Ok," he said. "If Steve Stanton walked into your office in a dress and said, 'I want to be your city manager, P.S., I'm cutting my penis off…'"
Jackson jumped in: "…I would say please give me your resignation today. I don't think that behavior, of cross dressing, is in the best interest of the city of Largo."
Riggle replied, "After 14 years of service, positive feedback, multiple raises and good reviews, he's gotta go."
"You'd better believe it," Jackson said.
Riggle tried another tact. "Well, what if he wore a pantsuit? Look at Hilary, it's working for her."
"No," Jackson affirmed. "I don't want to know what goes on in your bedroom, or wherever it is they get together, I guess the bathroom in the park…"
It could be that trans folk in Largo are especially kinky. But it's far more likely Jackson has no idea what he's talking about. He suffers from some illogical assumptions here. Not only does he believe that transgender is the same as transvestite, but he also thinks that gender identity is about sexual behavior. Thus, he thinks that Stanton is a big old pervert who wants to put a wig on to get off at the office. Hell, if that were the case, I'd fire him, too, just as I'd fire someone who wore nothing but nipple clamps and a strap-on to work.
But that isn't the case. Steve Stanton isn't a pervert, he's a person. Unfortunately, now that he's announced his intention to transition to Susan, folks like Jackson don't see that any more.
Though clearly discriminated against, Stanton isn't going to sue. "I just cannot find it within my heart to sue Largo – a city I have always and will always love," he said. Meanwhile he's vying for the city manager job in Sarasota where he's applied and would serve as a woman.
"My advice to him is that if he is to go through with this sex change, to not do what so many of them do," Jackson told Riggle. "They get some ungodly makeup and some ungodly get-up and they market and say 'I'm a transvestite.'"
Jackson is, after all, an expert in his own mind.

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Topics: Opinions
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