Two recent news stories have gotten me thinking. About bullies.
It’s not pleasant reading about a recent lawsuit filed by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against a western New York business for abusing a young transgender employee.
The complaint alleges that an owner of the business repeatedly harassed the transgender male employee, including telling the employee that he “wasn’t a real man,” asking invasive questions about his transition, and asking, “Does she have female parts?”
The complaint further alleges that management and employees made numerous other anti-transgender comments, including asking questions about the employee’s genitalia, telling him he wasn’t a “real guy,” and equating being transgender to pedophilia
We might imagine that our New York state Legislators George Borrello and Andrew Goodell would read this complaint and state their outrage at the treatment visited on this young individual.
But, really, how different are these legislators than the owner and preferred employees of this business?
These legislators announced proudly – Page 1 of the April 12 OBSERVER and Post-Journal – that they want and need to call out transgender students in middle and high schools who dare participate in sports.
When was the last time – first time? – that either talked with school district personnel, including teachers, nurses, social workers, counselors, and administrators, and asked about the vulnerability of our children, especially transgender children?
When did either one of these legislators stop and think about the additional harm that they might do to children who are already shown to suffer increased anxiety, depression, and have greater risk of substance abuse because they do not fit into the legislators’ crabbed social view?
These legislators, like the harassing and abusive business owner, are willing to take away the humanity of children. They seek to treat children who may be struggling with gender identity in our binary society as less valued.
These legislators, like the harassing and abusive business owner, are nothing more than bullies. Picking on our most vulnerable.
Michael Bobseine is a resident of Fredonia; and the EEOC case is being brought with the assistance of EEOC Attorney James Bobseine, a Class of 2003 Fredonia High School graduate.
Struggling youth need empathy
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Two recent news stories have gotten me thinking. About bullies.
It’s not pleasant reading about a recent lawsuit filed by the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against a western New York business for abusing a young transgender employee.
The complaint alleges that an owner of the business repeatedly harassed the transgender male employee, including telling the employee that he “wasn’t a real man,” asking invasive questions about his transition, and asking, “Does she have female parts?”
The complaint further alleges that management and employees made numerous other anti-transgender comments, including asking questions about the employee’s genitalia, telling him he wasn’t a “real guy,” and equating being transgender to pedophilia
We might imagine that our New York state Legislators George Borrello and Andrew Goodell would read this complaint and state their outrage at the treatment visited on this young individual.
But, really, how different are these legislators than the owner and preferred employees of this business?
These legislators announced proudly – Page 1 of the April 12 OBSERVER and Post-Journal – that they want and need to call out transgender students in middle and high schools who dare participate in sports.
When was the last time – first time? – that either talked with school district personnel, including teachers, nurses, social workers, counselors, and administrators, and asked about the vulnerability of our children, especially transgender children?
When did either one of these legislators stop and think about the additional harm that they might do to children who are already shown to suffer increased anxiety, depression, and have greater risk of substance abuse because they do not fit into the legislators’ crabbed social view?
These legislators, like the harassing and abusive business owner, are willing to take away the humanity of children. They seek to treat children who may be struggling with gender identity in our binary society as less valued.
These legislators, like the harassing and abusive business owner, are nothing more than bullies. Picking on our most vulnerable.
Michael Bobseine is a resident of Fredonia; and the EEOC case is being brought with the assistance of EEOC Attorney James Bobseine, a Class of 2003 Fredonia High School graduate.
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