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Loading ...Oregon trans mayor receives complaints for short skirt
07.24.2009 1:00pm EDT
(Ore.) A group has filed a complaint against the first openly transgender U.S. mayor, Mayor Stu Rasmussen, for violating the Silverton, Ore. City council’s dress code reports the Advocate.
Silverton Together, a nonprofit community organization in Silverton, filed the complaint after Rasmussen wore a short skirt and halter top to speak to a group of teenagers.“It is surprising and disappointing that an organization chartered to promote diversity and cultural understanding would take a public position of intolerance,” Rasmussen said.
The group’s executive director, Brenda Sturdevant, said that her group regularly sends youth home to change into appropriate clothing. “I expect our public leaders to follow the same guidelines that we have for our youth,” she told the Statesman Journal.
Rasmussen -who identifies as transgender prefers male pronouns- has called the dress code unnecessary and explained that he wore the outfit due to the heat.
“It was hot and sticky. My attire was completely appropriate to the circumstances and I also received a number of compliments during the day,” he said.
The dress revealed a lot more than this gay man wanted to see.
This story begs for a picture.
What I Honestly think? The mayor should have known better. Being an elected official comes with a dignified sense of responsibility and proper attire. She should have known that in the first place and followed the implied proper decorum when going out in public—especially at a public speaking event. Looking trashy with a low-cut, revealing skirt is neither dignified nor professional. I don’t care if it was hot, She could have still worn something that looked professional and not an outfit that made her look like a damn prostitute.
She made a bad example of herself not just as a transgender woman but also an elected official and embarassed her whole staff by doing so. You make your bed, you lie in it.
I have to agree with this one. I saw this on a local news channel, and I saw the short cut, tight, and revealing dress Mayor Rasmussen was wearing. You have to hold an elected official to a certain dress code. I would say the same for any woman in office. If Rasmussen had worn a more professional dress, I doubt there would have been complaints.