Steve Stanton Will Not Sue

Fired Largo city manager Steve Stanton has taken the turn the other cheeck approach. He will not to sue Laro for his dismissal.

"It is tempting to seek retribution in the courts, but after much reflection and soul searching, I just cannot find it within my heart to sue Largo - a city I have always and will always love. I do not want to punish the citizens of Largo," Stanton said in the statement.

The decision not to sue was "incredibly difficult," Stanton said, also calling the decision to fire him "shocking and cruel, and clearly unlawful."

Stanton explained his decision on Larry King Live with attoney Karen Doering of the National Center For Lesbian Rights.

KING: Are you going to sue?

DOERING: We advised Steve what his options were. We looked at the law and it's very clear what the city of Largo did is illegal. You cannot fire somebody just because they announce that they're going to transition from male to female. That's absolutely clear that that's what they did in the city of Largo.

So what we did was we laid out the options for Steve, and had real heart to heart about what litigation really looks like. It'll probably go on for years. And we talked about some other possibilities. And then we left it up to him to decide whether or not he wants to sue the city of Largo.

KING: You have decided yet?

STANTON: Absolutely. I decided the first night.

KING: You're going to sue?

STANTON: Of course not.

KING: Not sue?

STANTON: Of course not.

Doering advised Stanton that he had a strong case against the City of Largo and still decided not to sue. Stanton's actions are proof that he never was trying to his termination to get rich or was seeking attention. He was horrified when the St. Petersburg Times broke the story about his sex change.

What Stanton wanted was to keep a job he held for years (understandable) and be socially accepted for who he is. Regardless, of whether it is as Steve or Susan. Stanton intends to educate the public about why men and women become transgender and raise awareness. He is taken the negitively of his firing and turning it into something positive. Can the City of Largo say the same thing?