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Justice at last

by Bob Roehr

A transgender women illegally discriminated against in hiring by the Library of Congress will receive nearly a half million dollars. The final settlement was announced on April 29.
David Schroer had a 25-year career in the Army. The last third was in special operations, rising to the rank of colonel and leading a top secret 120-person group charged with tracking and targeting high-threat international terrorist targets.
After retiring from the military, he saw that the Congressional Research Service, a part of the Library of Congress, was seeking to hire a research analyst on terrorism. Schroer seemed to be a perfect fit.
The Library agreed and extended a job offer to Schroer but withdrew it when Schroer said he was in the process of transitioning and would begin work presenting as female, Diane.
Schroer fought the decision through administrative channels and then through the courts, with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union.
Last September, U.S. District Judge James Robertson ruled, "In refusing to hire Diane Schroer because her appearance and background did not comport with the decision maker's sex stereotypes about how men and women should act and appear, and in response to Schroer's decision to transition, legally, culturally and physically, from male to female, the Library of Congress violated Title VII's prohibition on sex discrimination."
In his final decision on the case last week, Robertson ordered the Library to pay Schroer $183,653 in back pay and $307,537.80 in damages.
Schroer told the Associated Press she was happy that the judge recognized her treatment as discrimination. Many transgender people face problems finding employment and often are underemployed. "It's not just about money," she said. "It's about knowing you are a valuable person."

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Topics: News
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