Largo Fire Fighter Endorsement for Michael Smith.

The Largo Professional Fire Fighters have endorsed city commission candidate Michael Smith.

"We are proud to officially announce our endorsement of Michael Smith for Largo City Commission. Because public safety is his highest priority, we're asking Largo citizens to make him our newest city commissioner.

You can learn more about Smith at his campaign web site.

Michael Smith Running For Largo City Commission

Michael Smith is an openly gay man. He is running for the Largo City Commission. Equality Florida is making an online push to help get Smith elected.

Smith is a member of Friends of Largo and Seminole Libraries. Smith has worked as a librarian and is a lifelong resident of Pinellas County. Smith's issues positions is standard left of center policy. It would be nice if Smith released the kind of detailed policy proposals that Bob Buckhorn did when he was a Mayoral candidate.

It is interesting to see an openly gay candidate running for the Largo City Commission. The commission forced out Susan Stanton (then Steve Stanton.) Smith's candidacy is a positive turn from the xenophobia targeted at Stanton in 2007.

Alex Sink Coming To Largo

Florida CFO Alex Sink will be at the Largo Library tomorrow for Focus on 2008: A Tampa Bay Economic Forecast.

Focus on 2008: A Tampa Bay Economic Forecast
Thursday, November 15, 2007
3:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Largo Public Library, 120 Central Park Drive
Call 727-586-7398

So-Called Friends of Largo

Curtis Holmes summitted a petition with 28 names to the Largo City Commission. The petition claimed that Largo City officials hid misconduct from the public. A few angry residents are claiming Steve Stanton's (now Susan) plans for a sex change was an ethics violation. The petition also claims Largo official who knew violated section 2.06 of the city charter.

The petition names Gerard and Commissioner Gay Gentry, along with Stanton, police Chief Lester Aradi, outgoing fire Chief Jeff Bullock, City Attorney Alan Zimmet, and director of human resources Susan Sinz. It also lists Gerard's husband, Eric, and former City Commissioner Pat Burke as individuals whose actions should be scrutinized.

Section 2.06 General Powers and Duties

(b) The mayor or a city commissioner shall report to the city commission all violations or neglect of duty or any misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in office, or improper conduct on the part of any elected or appointed official that may come to his or her knowledge.

Holmes and his supporters believe "dressing as a woman on city time and conspiring with city employees to keep vital information from the commission." Stanson wanted to wait until his son before coming out. Someone leaked the story to The St. Petersburg Times. Stanton begged the newspaper to hold to story to no avail. He was concerned of how her son would be treated by classmates.

The Largo City Commission voted to start an investigation. Mayor Gerald casted the only dissenting vote. Gentry was extremely emotional during the vote. The Pinellas County Sheriff's office will head the inquiry.

Gentry then emotionally told other commissioners “if you all don’t like that then you don’t need me up here (on the dais.)”

Gentry voted for the investigation.

"I have nothing to hide. You all know it all already," Gentry said.

Curtis Holmes has a history with Mayor Gerald.

One speaker, Curtis Holmes, accused Mayor Pat Gerard of seeking financial gain from the issue. He angrily objected to allegedly being called a “bigot” by Gerard because he had called for Stanton to be fired.

“I said I don’t care if he changes species,” Holmes said. “I made it perfectly clear that I don’t care. I said he should be fired because he kept this a secret. The only issue is what he is doing and whether it is good for the city of Largo.”

Holmes claimed Gerard’s husband, Eric, who runs an advertising agency, was now handling Stanton’s public relations and “I’ve heard there are going to be book deals. There is a chance of profit here.”

Gerard and her husband emphatically denied that they are doing any work for Stanton.

“We don’t do public relations,” Eric Gerard said, pointing out his company handles advertising for large companies throughout the United States.

Things get more interesting. Holmes is the founder of the 527 group Friends of Largo. Pinch-A-Penny founder Fred Thomas gave $20,000 to FOL. Before Stanton announced he was transgender; Thomas tried to get Stanton fired in early 2006.

Pinch-A-Penny founder Fred Thomas pointed at Largo's city manager during a City Commission meeting last August and made a prediction: "You're not going to win."

The millionaire businessman was promoting a plan to relocate his pool supply headquarters to a site near the old Crossroads Mall. City staff was cool to the idea.

Grinning, he told City Manager Steve Stanton, "I'm still in the ring."

Thomas also has different addresses for him homestead exception and voter registration.

But longtime Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Kurt Browning said the scenario doesn't add up. Asked Browning: How can Thomas claim the homestead exemption and vote in Largo? "The fact remains you get your homestead on your homestead - where you live," said Browning, past president of the Florida State Association of Supervisors of Elections. "Two and two are not equaling four here."

Thomas flew then Largo Mayor Bob Jackson to lobby on his companies behave. He contributed $27,500 to Jackson's campaign. Friends of Largo sent out campaign flyers for Jackson. The winner of the election was Pat Gerald. She opposed land use change deal to expand Thomas's Pinch-A-Penny facility.

What a tangled web we weave...

Susan Stanton News

Susan Stanton is one of the finalist for the Sarasota City Manager job. She received a surprising endorsement from the Unitarian Universalist Church.

Stanton met with Republican Congressman Bill Young.

As Stanton and other transgender advocates walked into Young's office about 11:30 a.m., Young told Stanton, "You need to realize that this may be a little awkward for me. I've never dealt with anyone in this situation before."

"This is a little awkward for me, too," Stanton replied.

Young appreciated the candor: "That broke the ice, and we had a nice conversation," Young, R-Indian Shores, said later.

He said he spoke with Stanton mostly about the nondiscrimination bill sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., who is openly gay. Young said he told Stanton he hadn't read the bill but would discuss it with Frank.

"We talked about a lot of things, frankly very personal, about her experience and the things that have been in the newspaper already," Young said.

Young has not said whether he will support Frank's bill. But he said he signed a commitment that a person's sexual orientation and gender identity would not be a consideration in employment decisions for his congressional office.

I will give Young credit for handling the situation with grace and meeting with someone Christian conservatives, in his own party, have contempt for. We should encourage members of the GOP to follow Young's lead.

Stanton also met with Kathy Castor, Mel Martinez, Bill Nelson and Ted Kennedy.

In other news: the hatemongers are trying to get Stanton's few supporters on the Largo City Commission fired. The commission has asked Pinellas County Sheriff Jim Coats to investigate whether any city officials hid Stanton's possible misconduct. The investigation was launched after a petition was signed by 200 people and delivered to the City of Largo.

These Christian conservatives need to understand the meaning of blowback. They wished to cast out Stanton. The results were making her into a media celebrity who is now lobbying Congress for gay rights. I would hardly call that a victory for the Christian Right.

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?

Quote of the Day

"Genuine leadership occurs when we are called upon to make un-popular decisions, assume the responsibility for failure, or defend and protect the independence and integrity of staff."

Largo City Manager Steve Stanton.

That quote was written by Stanton on a Largo city document long before the transgender controversy. Does anyone believe the Largo City Commission lived up to the standard of leadership outlined in the quote?

Steve Stanton Appeal

First Largo City Council voted to dismissed Steve Stanton because they said they didn't trust him for not telling them about his plans for a sex change. Stanton did tell the Mayor, the police chief and his staff. The council maintained that Stanton's presence would be disruptive. The move to fire him as turned out to be more disruptive than anyone can imagine.

The City Council is now focusing on Stanton's performance record. It is another dead end for the Council. Stanton has received positive performace reviews.

City Commissioners recognized that record in a series of positive evaluations, she said.

But since commissioners put him on leave three weeks ago, a few have brought up Stanton's reputation for hard-nosed treatment of employees.

The list of those terminated with Stanton's approval includes a low-level worker who cared for his elderly mother during a hurricane, two veteran fire officials and the city's risk manager.

"Unless you've worked with the man behind the scenes for many years, you wouldn't know his management style," Vice Mayor Harriet Crozier said. "That's not the kind of city manager I would want."

Now the City Council has a problem with Stanton being a hard ass. He has had a reputation for being an insensitive prick for years. That didn't the Council from lavishing praise on him and giving him high marks. The Council is looking for a justifible reason to fire him after the fact. These people won't even smart enough to think of that when they went in panic mold over a few hateful Pastors.

Stanton summed up the Council's reasoning for his dismissal.

The resolution that was ultimately adopted simply said that it was in the best interest of the city that I be terminated, primarily they felt that anybody who was essentially a transsexual was deceptive, deceitful and should have disclosed that sooner...

Ron Sanders Latest Hate Rant

The Rev. Ron Sanders speaks about the Steve Stanton appeal tomorrow and takes the time to go on a hate-filled tirade.

During the City Commission meeting on March 20, the Rev. Ron Sanders, pastor of the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Largo, said God has protected Largo over the years from killer hurricanes because of the abundance of prayers.

But, he warned, “The Lord wants me to say some things.”

“God’s wrath is on America right now,” Sanders said.

He pointed to the 911 terrorist attacks and the devastation of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina.

Sanders said the gay, lesbian and transgender lifestyle is “an abomination against God.” He said if the city allows Stanton to stay in office, “He will be a hero to all of those weirdos from New Orleans who are looking for a new home.”

What kind of Christian condems people who suffered and were left homeless during Katrina. Would Sanders feel the same way if he was stranded in the Superdome?





Sanders claims that every New Orleans resident is not a God-fearing Christian and deserved being displaced. I'm curious as to how Sanders was able to look into the souls of all these people and make this blanket judgement. For that matter: what does Steve Stanton's status have to do with Katrina?

Sanders says this stuff to the media. Imagine what he preaches in the confines of his church.

Update: What is interesting in the article is the lack of support other commission members have for Mary Gray Black.

Commissioner Mary Gray Black read a lengthy legal brief to the commission in which she argued that the hearing be quasi-judicial. She wants witnesses sworn and cross-examined and to have a legal transcription of the meeting.

City Attorney Alan Zimmet countered that this would give Stanton an easy avenue to appeal to the courts.

Several commissioners objected to having received Black’s prepared statement during the meeting and having to listen to her read it.

There was no support voiced for Black’s arguments.

To make matters more ridiculous, Largo has created a free speech zone. Those wishing to distribute literature will be fenced out. This is their reactionary idea to avoid another Nadine Smith incident.

Nadine Smith Interview

Pam Spalding sat down with Nadine Smith to talk about the Steve Stanton firing. Smith describes the scene in the lobby of the day of Smith's termination as "a mob scene."

The anti-gay marriage amendment is discussed. Smith said people are understanding that gay marriage is a cycle GOTV for the GOP.

Smith does not discuss her arrest.

Steve Stanton Newsweek Interview

Former Creative Loafing reporter Lynn Waddell interviews Steve Stanton on being his firing and going through the medical changes to become a woman.

When did you decide to make the transition?

It wasn’t something I wanted to do. It was something I had to do. Nobody can imagine the turmoil. Around 2005 I realized, “I can’t continue living part time.” A couple of years ago we had a police officer who committed suicide. I did not understand how anybody could take their life until this thing started creeping in on me. You can’t go back, and you’re too afraid to go forward. When I started thinking that way is when I realized I needed to re-evaluate my life.

Treatment of Steve Stanton

Steve Stanton describes the commpassionate conservatism he has been treated to.

When asked if anyone has had the courage to confront him directly, Stanton responded, "They have thrown eggs on my car. Someone sent me a nasty porno card. The biggest thing was going to a public meeting to hear so many who professed to have a close relation with God be so vicious in their loathing-particularly, the spewing out of hate [from] preachers."

Stanton explain who his behind his firing.

"I never anticipated that I would be fired. In the same sense I understand that the city commissioners are under extreme pressure. The city has almost been held under capture by the most outrageous, meanest e-mails generated primarily by three different churches. When you hear from that many people, whatever it is, you want to get rid of it. The difficult thing is I love my organization. I love my city. I can't believe I'm being fired. I've worked for a lot of cities. Largo is the dream job."

In the New Testament, Jesus said, "He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone at her." The Christianists are looking for the biggest stone to smite Stanton with. They use the name of Christ has an excuse to practice their bigotry. Not to help those that are needing assistance. Last time I checked America had drug abusers, homeless and victims of domestic violence.

Protest For Steve Stanton

Several progressive religious organizations will gather in front of Largo City Hall tomorrrow to protest the dismissal of city manager Steve Stanton. He was fired after the St Petersburg Times forced Stanton to announce his plans for a sex change before he was ready.

The 11th commandment.

"Thou shalt not discriminate," said the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, pastor of Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater.

He and other ministers say the Largo City Commission violated that unwritten directive when it moved to fire Stanton, 48, last week after he disclosed that he plans to have a sex-change operation.

If you are interested in participating be at the front steps of Largo City tommorrow at 10:30 a.m. The address is 201 Highland Ave, Largo.

I imagine the the crowd will be surprisingly big. Mike Deeson of Tampabay 10 reported the the city received mostly positive emails about Stanton announcing his sex change. The commision chose to listen to Christian conservatives Ron Saunders and Charlie Martin. The former said, "If Jesus was here tonight, I can guarantee you he'd want him terminated." Since Stanton's termination, the public has been strongly disapproves of the City Commission's actions.

HRC and NGLFT Joint Statement

Here is the HRC/NGLTF joint statement on Nadine Smith's arrest.

“HRC joins the Task Force in condemning these actions by Largo police. Arresting a community leader for simply handing out a flier is disgraceful,” said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “The city’s bigoted action against Steve Stanton was shameful in and of itself; its treatment of a citizen standing in support of Stanton is doubly appalling. We hope actions are taken immediately by city leaders to remedy both intolerable situations.”

“We condemn this outrageous and unprovoked attack on one of our community’s leading advocates,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. “This directly associates the police department of Largo with the appalling bigotry expressed by the hundreds attending the poisonous hearing attacking an outstanding public servant, Steve Stanton. We honor Nadine’s courage and dignity through this ordeal.”

Hat tip to Pam. I couldn't find the press releases.

Steve Stanton May Have Appeal Hearing

Steve Stanton is weighing with whether or not he wants to appeal the Largo city commission ruling. Commissions must hold a hearing between 15 to 30 days after Stanton's request.

"If I can't put together a decent appeal, I'm not going to disrupt the city organization," Stanton said.

Mustang Bobby is wondering if Stanton has grounds for a lawsuit. Whether Largo wins or loses in court; the taxpayers will be stucked paying the legal fees.

More On Nadine Smith

365Gay has an eyewitness report on Nadine Smith's arrest. The witness is an anonymous source. So I'm not 100% on the sourcing. True or not, the arrest was uncalled for.

Smith was in the lobby and arrested when a man approached her and asked for a flier she has holding that said "Don't Discriminate".

According to witnesses, Sgt. Butch Ward confronted Smith and ordered her to take back the flier.

When Smith asked why, Ward reportedly forced her into a side room where several officers violently shoved her to the floor and arrested her.

She has been charged with resisting arrest with violence, a felony, and disturbing others’ assembly, a misdemeanor.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and Human Rights Campaign condemned Smith's arrest in a joint statement. The latter is asking people to share their stories of being discriminated against in the workplace to help educate lawmakers.

Safety First

Litbrit pointed out this gem on Nadine Smith's arrest.

Fliers present a fire hazard; plus, when they end up on the floor, people can slip on them, McMullen said.

"Flyers are a safety hazard." So that is why they arrested Smith. Truly Daily Show material. I wonder if someone would have gotten arrested on a felony charge for leaving a banana peel on the floor. People can slip on those.

Petitions For Steve Stanton

San Francisco State University petition

Florida Equality has an email form you can use. The City of Largo will just ignore it as a spam mail. Government institutions are good at filtering out emails with the same headers coming from the same location. Want to get their attention is call Largo City Hall at 727-587-6700.

Pam Spaulding has a good run down on the Stanton story.

Nadine Smith Arrested

This is amazing. Wayne Garcia was at the Largo City Commission meeting and saw Nadine Smith of Equality Florida get arrested for handing out flyers. Smith was handing out a flyer that said "Don't Discriminate." That led to four Largo police officers arresting her.

Smith was changed with a felony resisting arrest and misdemeanor of disturbing others' assembly. It is not hard to pick up a felony resisting arrest in Florida. An officer can grab a person from behind. The person will instinctively pull away. Legally in Florida that is resisting arrest. It's doubtful Smith will do state time.

Smith was released on $5,250 bail.

Related posts: Steve Stanton Fired

Steve Stanton Targeted For Being Transexual

Steve Stanton Fired

Largo city commissioners vote to fire city manager Steve Stanton because of the controversy surrounding his plans to get a sex change. The St Petersburg Times has a video of Stanton giving a moving speech of what he has been through the past week. He never showed bitterness, spoke highly of Largo and city officials. After Stanton's speech, the city commission voted 5-2 to end his employment.

Update: Pastor Ron Saunders made this comment before before the vote.

"If Jesus was here tonight, I can guarantee you he'd want him terminated."

I wonder if Saunders' track record is better than Pat Robertson's claims of knowing where God is going to send hurricanes.