A week ago, BoxerDave diaried about the earlier state of this story. When transgendered woman Amber Yust went to the DMV in San Francisco to file for a new driver's license reflecting her gender, she was harassed by a DMV employee, who later sent a letter to her home address, and possibly sent a DVD about the evils of homosexuality.
At that time, the DMV put the DMV employee, Thomas Demartini, on paid administrative leave while the case was investigated. The investigation is almost complete, and as the San Francisco Chronicle reports today, Thomas Demartini has quit.
More over the fold.
Fortunately, the DMV doesn't think that Demartini's resignation ends the issue. From the article on sfgate.com, the DMV spokesman says:
Demartini's resignation "in no way diminishes the severity of the situation," Marando said. "He acted well outside the course and scope of his duties" and engaged in "unacceptable and wholly unauthorized behavior."
This wasn't the first time Demartini had harassed a transgender woman. In 2009, refusing to accept a similar application, he said that "God would send her to hell." He kept his job then. He didn't learn from the reprimand he got, and may have decided to escalate because all he got was a reprimand that first time.
While I don't approve of losing your job over making one mistake (depending on the mistake), Demartini refused to do his job and harassed one woman, and then harassed another. I find it very intimidating that this guy actually kept her home address and sent her things. It's also creepy.
Amber Yust has a temporary restraining order against her harasser, and is seeking legal remedies from the DMV and possibly also Thomas Demartini directly. Her lawyer:
Citing the earlier incident, attorney Christopher Dolan said the DMV's criticism of Demartini's behavior won't shield the department from legal responsibility.
"It's a statement designed to try to avoid responsibility for their wrongful acts in continuing to employ this fellow after he had already violated the civil rights of another person," Dolan said.
I will continue to hope that the DMV does something to address the stalking. If not, I hope Amber's suit will resolve things to her satisfaction, and that the former complainant has found some measure of resolution as well. Since this is clearly not someone who should be working at the DMV, I am glad that Demartini has quit.
Besides, who can like a guy who makes anyone stay at the DMV one minute longer than they have to?