Trans Woman
Fights in Court for Federal Job

A transgender woman who was denied a job opportunity at the Library of Congress testified Tuesday in the U.S. district court in Washington, D.C. A Library of Congress official had initially offered the position of terrorism research analyst to 52-year-old Diane Schroer, who was considered a star applicant. But in December 2004, the day after Schroer told her prospective boss she was making the transition to become a woman, the job offer was rescinded, according to The Washington Post.

Schroer, who was then known as David, had retired from the Army as a special forces commander. Before that she had been director of a classified organization formed to track and target international terrorists following the attacks of September 11; she regularly briefed Vice President Dick Cheney and other top federal officials.

"[E]very day, I wish the phone rang and they said, 'We made a mistake,'" she said at the trial on Tuesday.

The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in 2005 on Schroer's behalf. She still wants the job as well as damages, which are legally capped at $300,000.

The suit is based on the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which the Library of Congress argues does not protect Schroer because the act does not protect transgender people from discrimination on the basis of gender identity. The U.S. Justice Department is representing the Library of Congress.

Charlotte Preece, Schroer's once-prospective supervisor, said she worried the transition would distract her from her work. However, Schroer said her transition has helped her focus even more. According to her testimony, Schroer started a consulting firm and has contracts with several federal agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Defense.

"If anything, since my transition, things have been a lot clearer," Schroer said. "It feels like a big distraction has been removed from my life." (The Advocate)