Transgender fire
captain files grievance against chief

A transgender Tennessee fire captain has filed a grievance against her supervisors, claiming they subjected her to discrimination because she previously was a man. Jamie Faucon is accusing her direct supervisor, Mark Foulkes, along with Knoxville fire chief Carlos Perez, of taking away her fire department-provided car, reassigning her, and taking away her overtime hours because she is transgender.

Faucon's complaint also describes how supervisors still refer to her using male pronouns, even after her March 2005 gender-reassignment surgery.

"The proper terminology should be 'she,' 'her,' or 'ma'am,'" Faucon told a Knoxville television station. "Not 'he,' 'sir,' or 'his.'"

Knoxville Fire Department and city of Knoxville representatives did not respond to media requests for comment. (Advocate.com)