(Atlanta, Georgia) A transwoman who claims she was fired from her job at the Georgia legislature after stating her intention to live as a woman, filed a  federal lawsuit against Georgia General Assembly officials on Tuesday.

At a news conference Tuesday, Glenn said she loved her job, but privately struggled with years of unrelenting distress as a male.  Finally, she was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder (GID), and prepared to undergo a course of professionally guided treatment that included gender transition. 

The American Medical Association and other medical authorities recognize that treatment is necessary to relieve the suffering that GID can cause. 

In 2007, Glenn informed her immediate supervisor, Beth Yinger, that she planned to proceed with her transition from male to female.  Yinger passed the information on to the General Assembly’s Legislative Counsel, Sewell Brumby, who is the head of the office in which Glenn worked.

After confirming that Glenn intended to transition, Brumby fired her on the spot., Glenn said.

“We should expect more from the leaders of our state than to fire me simply for being who I am,” said Glenn.

She is represented by Lambda Legal.

The lawsuit asserts that Glenn’s firing violated the Constitution’s equal protection guarantee, because it treated her differently due to her female gender identity and her nonconformity with gender stereotypes. In addition, General Assembly officials disregarded Glenn’s GID and her needed treatment – also an equal protection violation, the lawsuit says.

“The leaders of the state of Georgia should be an example of fair- mindedness and ethical decision-making,” said Cole Thaler, a transgender rights attorney with Lambda Legal.

“Our client was a successful and professional employee who was fired because her boss didn’t like who she is.”

Attorneys for the state have not commented on the suit.