TS Fired For Reading TG Forum on The Job

It sounds like a paranoid dream, but it's the unfortunate truth. A transgendered Information Specialist at the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) was fired from her position when her employers found what they deemed to be "pornographic" material on her office computer's hardrive.

Tammy Fisher was not only open about her transsexuality, but was the Secretary of her union local. It is possible to infer that her employers used her alledged computer misuse as a convienient excuse to dismiss her.

" If you were to listen to the tape of the investigatory interview you would pick out a definite tone that made innocent titles like "One to One with Cindy Martin" sound very sleazy," said Ms. Fisher. She continued, "It is absolutely ridiculous how their bias has slanted their view."

The ODE had the Oregon State Police review the contents of Ms. Fisher's computer. Not being a computer expert Ms. Fisher was unaware that files from sites she visited (or visited by others using her computer) were kept in her browser's cache. In her web browser's cache the police found graphics files that seemed, to them, to indicate that TGF was a naughty site. Among the objectionable images were one of two women, fully dressed hugging each other, under the caption "Friends," and images from advertisers on TGF, such as Affordable Fantasy Crossdressing, and Satin Dolls. Ms. Fisher maintains that other graphics which were of a more erotic nature were not on any of the sites she viewed with the computer. She provided the ODE with evidence that other employees had used her machine.

When informed by Ms. Fisher's attorney that she visited TG Forum, "for news and information related to my workplace issues as a transsexual," the ODE backed off on classifying TGF as a porno site. Ms.Fisher is in the process of suing the Oregon Department of Education and she has the support of her union. Protests are being organized by other concerned groups in Oregon. If you would like more information contact Bob Rossi at either 503-581-1505 or 1-800-452-2146.