Federal Appeals Court: Transsexuals Have No Civil Rights

Unfortunately, this 10th Circuit Court of Appeal ruling should surprise no one. Unless and until the Employment Non-Discrimination Act is passed by Congress, neither transsexuals nor others in the LGBT community have civil rights protections in the majority of the states within the USA. In Virginia, except for state agency employees purportedly protected by an executive order of the Governor, LGBT individuals can be fired at will based solely on their sexual orientation. Meanwhile, rabid Christianists who work ceaselessly to keep gays as second class citizens or worse DO have non-discrimination (as well as hate crime ) protections based on their religious beliefs. Here are a few high lights from 365gay.com's coverage:

(Denver, Colorado) A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling that found transsexuals are not covered by federal discrimination laws. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Krystal Etsitty had no legal recourse in fighting her firing by the Utah Transit Authority in 2005.

Following her dismissal she sued under federal sexual discrimination laws. In court judge David Sam referred to Etsitty as "she" but dismissed the suit saying that because Etsitty had been born male the federal law did not apply.