Meanwhile in this country
Remember Amber Yust? Amber is a transwoman who went to the DMV on Fell Street in San Francisco to record a sex change. At first she was denied by employee Thomas Demartini because of a "records mismatch" between the identity on her government ID and the information she wanted on her new California ID. So she had to go to the Social Security Office for proof that her name change was official. Then she returned to the DMV to have her requested alterations processed.
Four days later Yust received a letter at home from Demartini begging her not to commit a mortal sin by completing her transition.
Jesus clearly prohibits gender change operations. If an operation like this is the reason for changing one's name, then one has made a very evil decision.
Now, I've read the Bible and do not recall ever seeing this admonition. Can anyone help me out?
Later the same day a DVD arrived entitled Death and the Journey into Hell, along with a religious pamphlet from My Holy Family Monastery.
Last December Yust filed suit against the DMV and Demartini alleging violation of her rights under the California Information Practices Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. This caused Demartini to resign his position.
Further investigation revealed that Demartini had been accused of discriminating against transpeople previously. In one instance, while denying a name change to a transwoman, he told her "God will send you to Hell". In that instance the DMV apologized, but did not dismiss Demartini.
The DMV defended itself by claiming that Demartini's actions were expressly prohibited by department policy and that it was just an isolated incident.
On Monday the DMV settled with Yust. She was awarded $40,000 from the state and $15,000 from Dematini. In addition the DMV has agreed to work with the Transgender Law Center in order to incorporate transgender sensitivity into its employee training package.
This suit affirms the right of all people to equal access to government services, regardless of their orientation or decision to make a transition to live life as their full and complete self."
"In the big picture, this suit promotes the privacy rights of all Californians by ensuring that confidential information retained by our government stays confidential.
--Chris Dolan, Yust's attorney
I'd like to note that (surprise, surprise) Ms. Yust is a computer programmer, not a sex worker.
I thought I'd finish this off with this gem of a commercial from the past.
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