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News & ArtsTuesday, December 8, 2009
Homo / News There Oughta Be a Law
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Dec 8, 2009 at 11:32 AM
A McDonald's restaurant in Tampa is in trouble for discriminating against a transgendered teenager who applied for a job:
Bellamy is a male who has been living as a female for about the past six years. She said she completed a job application online, then was called to the store for an interview. When one manager refused to see her, she called later and was granted an interview with another manager. "He began to laugh at me once he saw me," said Bellamy, who wore a suit to the interview. "He said, 'Oh, I can't interview you today. I'm busy."' One of the managers also left her a voice mail saying: "We do not hire faggots."
This girl wore a suit to an interview at McDonald's and they didn't hire her on the spot?
1
I don't know... I prefer my saturated superfats and carbonated high-fructose corn syrup with just a touch of faggotry. A tranny countergirl might just do the trick!
Honestly, as if McDonald's has standards... I hope she sues their asses off (not a double entendre, I promise) and gets her schooling paid for.
Honestly, as if McDonald's has standards... I hope she sues their asses off (not a double entendre, I promise) and gets her schooling paid for.
4
Not defending McDonald's necessarily, but it must really suck to be a franchisor and have to put up with pig ignorant, yokel franchisees (and get sued on those assholes' behalf).
7
The managers don't care. If they get fired, they'll get another job paying about the same. If their shop gets sued, it's the corporation that dishes out.
Someone needs to hop on the next bus to Atlanta or NYC or SF.
Someone needs to hop on the next bus to Atlanta or NYC or SF.
9
OK. Go listen to the voicemail - it's online...you can find it. There's more to this story than is painted here. The manager and Zikerria knew each other. I'm all for supporting our (LBGT) collective rights....but when there's a huge amount of bullshit in a story....there's a huge amount of bullshit.
10
There is a drag queen that works the McDonalds at 3rd and Pike. Florida chick can come here and work there.
11
It was in Orlando, actually. I'm not saying it COULDN'T happen in Tampa. I'm just saying. Tampa gets to sit at least one of these out.
14
@9 Pray tell, where did you read that the manager and Zikerria knew each other? I've heard the voicemail, and nowhere is it ever even implied that they knew each other previously (beyond her walking in for a job interview).
15
@6. That's never gonna happen. They're gonna build dikes around the whole goddamn thing. The shallow aquifer will have saltwater encroachment, so potable water will have to be pumped in from the north (unless desalinization plants get lest costly).
Is this less costly than action now?
Is this less costly than action now?
16
@15, desalinated water costs more than gasoline, gallon for gallon. And "up north" doesn't exactly have a lot of spare water lying around; Georgia, the next state up, is in the middle of an historical drought.
The water fight's going to be a shooting war here in the next decade, just watch. All the growth in the US is in places that ain't got none. The desert Southwest -- Phoenix, Vegas, etc. -- has just passed out of a historically HIGH rainfall era into a more typical one, with HALF the rainfall they're used to. That "drought" isn't a drought, it's normal, and they need to figure out how to use 1/3 the water they've been using, which means they're pretty much obligated to shed half of their population. Um, which half, in country that has increased by a factor of ten in the last few decades?
The water fight's going to be a shooting war here in the next decade, just watch. All the growth in the US is in places that ain't got none. The desert Southwest -- Phoenix, Vegas, etc. -- has just passed out of a historically HIGH rainfall era into a more typical one, with HALF the rainfall they're used to. That "drought" isn't a drought, it's normal, and they need to figure out how to use 1/3 the water they've been using, which means they're pretty much obligated to shed half of their population. Um, which half, in country that has increased by a factor of ten in the last few decades?
17
God this shit is depressing, at least if she sues Mcdonalds she'll be able to afford way more than a ticket out of Tampa
19
actually, Fnarf, latest data I saw says that Florida has lost almost half it's population ... no, don't have a link.
21
@15,
They're not going to build a seawall around the entire state. Be serious. We can hardly build a fence between the U.S. and Mexico.
They're not going to build a seawall around the entire state. Be serious. We can hardly build a fence between the U.S. and Mexico.
22
"This girl wore a suit to an interview at McDonald's and they didn't hire her on the spot?"
I think that means she was already over-qualified for the position.
I think that means she was already over-qualified for the position.
23
Update: According to Queerty.com, that manager that called the applicant a faggot, has been fired!
I guess everything doesn't suck all the time these days...
I guess everything doesn't suck all the time these days...
24
@19 The population has decreased for the first time (housing bust), but it is only very small percentage of the population.
27
ugh. Glad to hear the douche bag got fired.
There seems to be a big disconnect between big businesses anti-discrimination polices, political legislation and health care provider policy (like not dropping trans from the DSM.)
That is to say, i feel big business is moving faster at not allowing this kind of shit anymore than our politicians and care providers.
I would assume that to be backwards, but (shrug.)
Anyone else sense that, or do i need to find some crack to smoke?
There seems to be a big disconnect between big businesses anti-discrimination polices, political legislation and health care provider policy (like not dropping trans from the DSM.)
That is to say, i feel big business is moving faster at not allowing this kind of shit anymore than our politicians and care providers.
I would assume that to be backwards, but (shrug.)
Anyone else sense that, or do i need to find some crack to smoke?
28
@22: No. It means she assiduously wanted to override any preconceptions of her as an irresponsible, irrational, wacky tranny like the wigged, leathery ones sauntering around 18th and Olive. It was a direct response to being told she doesn't have a place anywhere — a show of stability, maturity, and well, demonstrative that she was worthy of being paid a salary even at a dirty hole like McDicks. In Florida. In Tampa. Yeah, it doesn't get much worse. Maybe southeastern Texas.
You've gotta be desperate to work at the urinal arches, but that desperation hints at other persistent barriers to getting above-table work elsewhere.
You've gotta be desperate to work at the urinal arches, but that desperation hints at other persistent barriers to getting above-table work elsewhere.
30
Well, on the bright side, McDonalds is a horrible place to work. She should take this as an opportunity to find a better job.
31
I agree with Comment # 30. Be the situation as cruel as it is, at least you aren't working at McDonalds. In fact, imagining myself in this girl's place, I would be deeply hurt, yes... but at the same time... I'm way too good to work at that place. Hell, I could actually get a decent job somewhere that appreciates my fuck-tasticly awesome suit.
33
@ 32,
She's only 17 years old. McDonalds (and other fast food joints) are a typical first job of a teenager. I'm sure when she graduates high-school and goes on to college she can move up to waiting tables and retail.
She's only 17 years old. McDonalds (and other fast food joints) are a typical first job of a teenager. I'm sure when she graduates high-school and goes on to college she can move up to waiting tables and retail.
34
I find it interesting that no one else has picked up on the fact that this 17yo has been living as a girl for 6 YEARS, meaning she transitioned at age 11, which would imply that she has supportive parents, and probably supportive friends, and the self-confidence to stand up for herself. Even though she's in the middle of Florida.
Yeah, she's applying for a job at McD's, but that's what 17yo's do. And she encountered some asshats, and they probably aren't the first or the last, but on the whole, I'd say it's a pretty happy sounding story, from what little we know.
Yeah, she's applying for a job at McD's, but that's what 17yo's do. And she encountered some asshats, and they probably aren't the first or the last, but on the whole, I'd say it's a pretty happy sounding story, from what little we know.
35
@34: Why is that interesting? It does actually happen from time to time. I know that might be difficult to fathom, but it happens. Sometimes, it might be only the parents who have that knowledge — not the community, not the neighbours, and not classmates.
In such a case, it really then becomes the barrier of agencies charged with issuing and managing legal identification and the policies they allow/forbid on amendments to those identity documents. She may have had family and community on her side, but that doesn't amount to anything if a legal system refuses or fails to administrate changes — be it easily, or even at all. All it takes is a judge or other official who wants to invoke trouble, and well, get used to applying to jobs with a woefully incongruous name.
In such a case, it really then becomes the barrier of agencies charged with issuing and managing legal identification and the policies they allow/forbid on amendments to those identity documents. She may have had family and community on her side, but that doesn't amount to anything if a legal system refuses or fails to administrate changes — be it easily, or even at all. All it takes is a judge or other official who wants to invoke trouble, and well, get used to applying to jobs with a woefully incongruous name.
37
This is horrible and wrong but you know what? At least she doesn't have to work at McDonald's. It's a happy ending, really.
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