Lawsuit claims sex change led to firing at Saint Anselm College

Wednesday, June 1, 2005
Foster's Daily Democrat, NH
 

CONCORD, NH. (AP) — Last year, computer programmer Robert Blanchette met with his supervisors at Saint Anselm College to tell them he'd be returning from a two-week vacation as Sarah Blanchette.  Blanchette also wrote a letter saying he had wrestled with his gender identity and was a transsexual. He said he was undergoing medical treatment and psychological counseling. He asked for their compassion and support.

"I am not doing this to embarrass anyone, nor to seek notoriety or cause disruption," Blanchette wrote to Adam Albina, the college's information technology director, and Patricia Shuster, vice president for administration. "Rest assured that I will present myself in a professional and age-appropriate manner."

But in a lawsuit filed in federal court last week, Blanchette alleges that his disclosure led to his being put on leave and then fired after 6 years with the college, which is in Manchester.  Claiming sex discrimination, he asked to be rehired with back pay and for damages for emotional distress.  "As with any case ... there are obviously a lot of things that are not in the complaint," said Sean Gorman, a spokesman for Saint Anselm. "There is a whole other side."

Gorman also said that transsexuality is not covered by the Civil Rights Act, but Blanchette's attorney disagreed.  "Firing somebody because they are transgender is sex discrimination," Bennett Klein said. "She was an exemplary and loyal employee for seven years."

After the meeting with Shuster and Albina, Shuster told Blanchette she would need to talk it over with other college officials, the lawsuit said. A month later, she met with Blanchette to tell her she was no longer welcome at Saint Anselm.  "As you know, you recently disclosed to senior college administration your transsexual status. Upon consideration, you are immediately relieved of your duties," Shuster wrote.
A New Hampshire native, Blanchette, 53, is an Air Force veteran, and is married with children, according to the lawsuit.

As Robert Blanchette, he was a computer programmer and technical support specialist. He wrote code and designed and installed computer systems for administrative offices and had received commendations for his work, the lawsuit said.

"At all times during his employment at the college, Robert Blanchette dressed and appeared in a manner that is traditionally associated with males," the suit states. "Robert Blanchette, however, struggled privately throughout much of his adult life with distress related to his gender
identity."

He sought help in 2001, seeing a psychologist and gender specialist, and was diagnosed with "gender identity disorder," the suit said. He began hormone therapy in 2002 and was ready to begin life as a woman in 2004