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By JOHN CURRAN, Associated Press Writer
Last Updated: February 28, 2006, 01:21:09 AM PST

EAGLESWOOD TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - To students at Eagleswood Elementary School, she used to be Mr. McBeth. Now, after undergoing a sex change, 71-year-old Lily McBeth is ready to return to teaching as Miss McBeth.

Despite criticism from parents, the school board on Monday stood by its decision to allow McBeth to resume working as a substitute teacher.

After two hours of public debate and a private meeting with McBeth and her lawyer, the board took no action on calls by several parents to bar McBeth from returning to the school where she taught for five years before becoming a woman.

"It was magnificent," McBeth said afterward. "You saw democracy in action."

McBeth, a retired sales executive who was married for 33 years and had three children, underwent gender reassignment surgery last year and re-applied for her job under her new name.

McBeth on Monday told the school board and the crowd that she loves teaching and children, and looks forward to returning to the classroom.

"This is not something I got into just as a whim," she said.

Several parents said children in the school - which consists of kindergarten through sixth grade - were not old enough to understand the concept of changing one's gender.

"I, as a parent, am appalled to have this issue brought into my child's psychology," Steve Bond said.

Danny Hogan wrote:he should get his money back

Tim Whitehead wrote:My 9th grade science teacher, Mr. Williams, actually became Ms. Williams a few years after I had left the school. I don't know what "Emily" looked like, but based on the "Tony" she started as, she would have been an ugly, ugly woman. About 6 feet tall, 85 lbs, one glass eye. Not exactly a looker...

Fire capt. files grievance against chief after changing gender

March 1, 2006

By DANIELLE BANKS
6 News Anchor/Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A Knoxville firefighter claims she's being discriminated against because she used to be a man.

Fire Capt. Jamie Faucon has filed a grievance against Knoxville Fire Chief Carlos Perez and her supervisor, Mark Foulkes.

She accuses them of depriving her of a take-home car, of reassigning her and cutting out her overtime because she is a transgendered firefighter.

Faucon also says in her grievance Foulkes used incorrect gender terms when referring to her in conversations.

She says she never thought she would wind up in a situation like this but the actions that allegedly took place earlier this week left her with no other choice.

Faucon had surgery to change from male to female in March 2005. Before making the change, she says she spoke with several city officials and her co-workers were supportive.

Faucon's personal data change form notes her gender change was entered into the system in May 2005.

Danny Hogan wrote:i never thought i'de see the day where there were so many gender benders in the news that i would run out of material.

KnoxVegas wrote:It is just so easy, isn't it Sonny? To take cheaps shots at the hard working people of East Tennessee.