Vote Democrat
Amused
Mr. Gordon Now "Ms." Gordon at New York Area School
By Jeff McKay
CNSNews.com Correspondent
July 26, 2001
(CNSNews.com) - He spent a decade teaching in Eastchester, NY, a relatively
quiet suburb of New York City. After taking time off for an operation,
Randey Gordon will be back at Eastchester High School taking up right where
she left off, teaching the same art history class.
Randey Gordon, once a married man, well-liked teacher, with a 21-year-old
son, is now Randey Gordon, a woman, who will be resuming her teaching career
in September.
Gordon, who is recuperating after the gender-changing operation in New
Mexico, told the Associated Press, "It's still me. The parents and the kids
who knew me as a man, they'll accept me. The person hasn't changed."
"I'm the same crazy, humorous person I was before," she said. "I shouldn't
have to give that up. The fact is that diversity is something the world
needs to understand and respect and I'm doing this for others."
Gordon is one of nearly 1,000 people annually who have a sex-change
operation. While a large majority of those who change their sex will leave
their former life and start their life anew, usually in a different place
and with a different identity, Gordon will be returning to the same
classroom in the same town.
The idea of having a sex-change operation was the culmination of years of
frustration. "All my life I knew there was something wrong," said Gordon. At
one point in his life, Gordon had contemplated suicide, only to stop when,
as he pointed a gun to his head, his son entered the room.
While Randey Gordon, the woman, makes the transition, so will the students
and staff of Eastchester High School.
At first, the school system balked at the idea of Gordon returning to teach
at the same school. Eventually, the school system agreed to a one-year leave
of absence, with pay.
The school district informed parents by holding a meeting for parents and
students to discuss the issue, covering questions, which even included
bathroom protocols.
Eastchester Schools Superintendent Robert Siebert said there were a lot of
questions, but also some support.
"People had questions, but many people were supportive (of Gordon). We
reminded the parents and students that Randey would have to be responsible
about what she says to students, just like any other teacher." Siebert was
clear that as a person, Gordon had "rights that must be protected."
Ellie Giotas, who has a daughter in the high school, has doubts.
"They're trying to justify something in the name of freedom, in the name of
the law," Giotas told the Associated Press. "I would tell this guy, `Why
don't you get the hell out and start your new life somewhere else? Why do
you have to impose this on us, on our children?"
The president of the Eastchester Teacher's Association and the principal of
Eastchester High School were not available for comment.
Darryl Figueroa, spokeswoman for the National Education Association, the
nation's largest teachers union, said the union has no set policy in such
matters. "The major concern for the teacher would be classroom performance.
If (a sex change) doesn't affect classroom performance, and as long as it
doesn't we would tend to support the teacher."
Apparently, teacher gender-changing is not an isolated incident. A similar
case is happening at Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook, Ill., where
school officials have notified parents that a female high school science
teacher will return to classes this fall as a man.
Not every sex-change story has had a happy ending. Dana Rivers, a teacher in
Sacramento, Calif., lost her job two years ago after announcing her
sex-change operation. The school board, citing that parents complained
Rivers had talked to students about the decision, fired her. Rivers denied
the allegation and filed suit, resulting in a $150,000 settlement, which
included her resignation.
Gordon will return to class teaching art history and gold-and silversmithing
at the 600-student high school starting September 4.
userb3
>A chicken in every pot, a fruit in every class...
What does this have to do with "fruits" or Democrats? Why would you
care if a teacher has gender reassignment surgery?
-
userb3 - Proud member of the Republican Pro-choice Coalition
http://www.gopchoice.org/index.html
Prince Albert Gored
assignments. It's a conflict of interest... (tic)
"userb3" <use...@starband.net> wrote
in message news:hfreofgneonaqarg...@news.alt.net...
Amused
emotional instability. Teachers should be role models, not poster children
for the sexually retarded.
I understand that you feel somehow compelled to be tolerant of this
fruitiness, but I call it as I see it.
Amused
"userb3" <use...@starband.net> wrote in message
news:hfreofgneonaqarg...@news.alt.net...
Amused
"userb3" <use...@starband.net> wrote in message
news:hfreofgneonaqarg...@news.alt.net...
userb3
>Because it's a disgusting display of self-indulgence mixed with mental and
>emotional instability.
Do tell. Would you consider anyone who seeks counseling or psychiatric
care similarly self-indulgent and unstable? How about a divorced
teacher, or one who changed religion?
> Teachers should be role models, not poster children
>for the sexually retarded.
How do you know this person isn't a role model? From the article, it
sounds like he has the respect of his peers, the kids like him, and the
school district considers him qualified. He has apparently met state
requirements for teacher certification.
And frankly, I can't think of a better indication of sexual retardation
than a fear of anyone outside normal gender roles. Maybe the teacher in
question isn't the one we should be concerned about.
>I understand that you feel somehow compelled to be tolerant of this
>fruitiness, but I call it as I see it.
"fruitiness"? Is that supposed to be an insult?
I'll refrain from calling it as I see it wrt your comments in an effort
to avoid ad hominem attack.
userb3
>....and to waste taxpayer dollars giving this headcase a year off with pay...
He didn't ask for the year off - the school district did. I would think
the "headcase" is the person who considered this grounds for what
amounts to a one year suspension.
Amused
circus. I hear he has a good shot at the 'bearded lady' job.
Amused
"userb3" <use...@starband.net> wrote in message
news:hfreofgneonaqarg...@news.alt.net...
userb3
and wrong.
Amused
xofpi
says...
>
>A chicken in every pot, a fruit in every class...
Or you could vote Republican: a hypocritical homophobe in every SUV, a
self-loathing transexual in every closet.
Amused
I don't like string beans. I think they're yucky. I don't want anyone
putting string beans on my plate, or mixing them in my food.
Does that mean I'm afraid of string beans???
Amused
"Amused" <amu...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:8sg87.871$bl1.1...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
Amused
"xofpi" <xo...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:pzg87.8938$ar1....@www.newsranger.com...
userb3
>P.S.
>
>I don't like string beans. I think they're yucky. I don't want anyone
>putting string beans on my plate, or mixing them in my food.
>
>Does that mean I'm afraid of string beans???
If you have an irrational avoidance, then you are phobic. If you refuse
to hire, associate with, or trust your children with people who eat
green beans, then you are phobic.
userb3
>Or you could vote Republican: a hypocritical homophobe in every SUV, a
>self-loathing transexual in every closet.
Ever hear of the Log Cabin Republicans?
userb3 - comfortable with my sexuality, my suv, my gun, my choice, and
tolerant of your preferences.
xofpi
>
> >Or you could vote Republican: a hypocritical homophobe in every SUV, a
> >self-loathing transexual in every closet.
>
> Ever hear of the Log Cabin Republicans?
I have. I have not heard of the Republican Pro-choice Coalition.
Godspeed to you. You need it.
userb3
>> Ever hear of the Log Cabin Republicans?
>
>
>I have. I have not heard of the Republican Pro-choice Coalition.
>Godspeed to you. You need it.
There a lot of moderate republicans and organizations that represent
us. You just have to look a little.
For that matter, I know a lot of moderate and even conservative
Democrats. People get too caught up in partisanship and lose sight of
whats important.
Amused
view.
Would you let your child be active in groups who view homosexuality as
repugnant and immoral? I doubt it.
Disagreeing doesn't make you right.
Amused
"userb3" <use...@starband.net> wrote in message
news:hfreofgneonaqarg...@news.alt.net...
xofpi
>
> >> Ever hear of the Log Cabin Republicans?
> >
> >
> >I have. I have not heard of the Republican Pro-choice Coalition.
> >Godspeed to you. You need it.
>
> There a lot of moderate republicans and organizations that represent
> us. You just have to look a little.
>
> For that matter, I know a lot of moderate and even conservative
> Democrats. People get too caught up in partisanship and lose sight of
> whats important.
I agree with you. But your party is now owned by the DeLays, Armeys
and Lotts. Are you proud of them?
BitHead
wrote:
>As you are with people who see things from a moral/traditional point of
>view.
>
>Would you let your child be active in groups who view homosexuality as
>repugnant and immoral? I doubt it.
I would prefer it.
>
It's the truth, after all.
userb3
>I agree with you. But your party is now owned by the DeLays, Armeys
>and Lotts. Are you proud of them?
My party is owned by no one. Hell, just yesterday, NPR did a piece on
the rising importance of moderate Republicans as the new power brokers
in the party. With an evenly split congress, both parties can count on
their extremists. No one doubts how Jesse Helms will vote. But the guys
in the middle have to be carefully courted to avoid ship jumpers.
-
userb3
>Would you let your child be active in groups who view homosexuality as
>repugnant and immoral? I doubt it.
In point of fact, when he was younger, we let him attend the local
Baptist church camp. They have a good youth program and half his little
league team was going. But we took pains to put some of their teachings
in context for him.
Dennis McGee
<use...@my-deja.com> wrote:
>
>Hell, just yesterday, NPR did a piece on the rising importance
>of moderate Republicans as the new power brokers in the party.
Wow, that's the best news since Republicans gave J.C. Watts the key to his
own restroom.
xofpi
>
> >I agree with you. But your party is now owned by the DeLays, Armeys
> >and Lotts. Are you proud of them?
>
> My party is owned by no one. Hell, just yesterday, NPR did a piece on
> the rising importance of moderate Republicans as the new power brokers
> in the party. With an evenly split congress, both parties can count on
> their extremists. No one doubts how Jesse Helms will vote. But the guys
> in the middle have to be carefully courted to avoid ship jumpers.
I hope you're right. I hope the age of DeLay is on the wane. It (th
eoffshoot of the age of Gingrich) is what made Bush possible. Still, I
don't understand how anyone who calls himself moderate can tolerate
the constipated twits who've been calling the shots in your party for
the last 20 years. Lincoln and tedy roosevelt must be rolling in their
graves.
Amused
Roosevelt stood for...
"xofpi" <xo...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:15b2d554.01072...@posting.google.com...
userb3
>As if moderates and liberals reflected anything near what Lincoln and
>Roosevelt stood for...
Is that the litmus test?
--
userb3
Preserve Liberty - Fight Term Limits!