Tampabay: Religious leaders to protest in Largo

But there is an 11th commandment, say some local religious leaders, and the controversy over Largo City Manager Steve Stanton is a good time to remember it.

"Thou shalt not discriminate," said the Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, pastor of Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater.

He and other ministers say the Largo City Commission violated that unwritten directive when it moved to fire Stanton, 48, last week after he disclosed that he plans to have a sex-change operation.

Because of the commission's decision, an interfaith coalition of religious leaders from throughout the Tampa Bay area will gather at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the steps of Largo City Hall, 201 Highland Ave., in a peaceful protest against what they feel is a grave injustice. They hope other like-minded citizens will participate as well.

Through the demonstration, they hope to urge commissioners to change their minds and not fire Stanton.

A dozen members of the clergy have indicated they will attend, as well as at least 100 members of various churches and at least one temple who hope to change commissioners' minds. Attendees are expected to come from congregations countywide.

Share your thoughts on this story

Read our guidelines for comments

Comments on this article

by Al	03/06/07 05:31 PM
Those calling Mr. Stanton homosexual don't get it. He is not homosexual, he has a female brain trapped in a man's anatomical body. He is using surgery to fix this problem. It is a well established condition and procedure. He should not lose his job

by Laura	03/06/07 04:50 PM
You can certainly see that bigotry and hypocrasy are still alive and well! Bravo to the clergy who are protesting!

by Francisco	03/05/07 10:41 AM
Ok let me get this straight. According to the bible in Corithians 6:9,10 it says the type of people that will not reign in the heavens and it includes homosexuality . These "RELIGOUS" leaders support his homosexaul lifestyle?

by Shirley	03/05/07 10:15 AM
I think these religious leaders need to protest the sex change, not the firing of this weirdo.

by cin	03/05/07 09:40 AM
Its not about sex discrimination.Its that he lied to everyone for years.He did not tell anyone of his thoughts of being a woman when he first got into office or before.He has lied to the community as well as his own family.Why can't anyone see this?

by Michael	03/05/07 09:17 AM
The City Commissioners of Largo are a disgrace. My plans to vacation or retire to this area are definitely changed until such time as they recant their stupid decision.

by James	03/05/07 08:50 AM
I applaude Rev. Janamanchi et al for taking this very brave Christian stand, for if Jesus were here, this is what he would do (Re. Matthew 7). My prayers will be with them on Tuesday.

by Gene	03/05/07 08:37 AM
It isn't difficult to find dozens of ministers and church people who are wrong about this and a lot of other things too. Ask them how many of them even believe the Bible is God's Word.

by Ken	03/05/07 08:22 AM
They might have had an argument - if the "guy" were a janitor working for the city. But the city manager? Sorry, the judgment he showed in airing this and hurting his family bodes ill for the city. Large was better off when population was 3500!

by John	03/05/07 08:21 AM
Do we really want to become so open minded that our brains fall out? We are reaching, in my opinion, a state of affairs that is bound to tear the fabric that has held our country together. Everbody has a discrimination story. I miss Mr. Cleaver.

by Lisa	03/05/07 08:07 AM
Finally, religious leaders preaching love and acceptance, not hate and bigotry.

by J	03/05/07 08:06 AM
This is not discrimination. It was not based on his gender or race. It was based on him wanting a sex change which is showing that he has serious mental issues and can not be trusted to perform his job and represent a city.

by John	03/05/07 07:58 AM
It's not "discrimination". Gays/lesbians/transexuals/transgenfered are not a protected class in FL (thankfully!) and therefore, cannot be discriminated against. The freak who wants a sex change SHOULD be fired and IS to be fired, period. BYE BYE!

by TOM	03/05/07 07:37 AM
Can't all these out of town flakes let the City of Largo run it's own business and then let the courts decide. Since when is it government via the St. Pete Times.

by Charles	03/05/07 07:18 AM
If he uses his vacation time for the surgery no extra cost to the city. Give him/Her a chance to perform the work as he has done in the pass.

by Tim	03/05/07 07:02 AM
I say fire the commission and the Mayor. This kind of intollerance is not in the best interest of the community.

by Lee	03/05/07 06:54 AM
It is nice to see people standing up for freedom. I hope they are not alone in the protest, I know I would be there if it were not for having to work.

by Kim	03/05/07 06:45 AM
It is kind of late for these church people. Oh Well! Better late then never!

by Saul	03/05/07 05:39 AM
Inter faith? Fiath in what? Not 1 can show you in their respective books that it is approved to opearte to change sex. Wonde who they pray to? Not the Palsm 90:2 God -from everlasting to everlasting-change not.

by Kevin	03/05/07 05:20 AM
You were assigned a sex at birth. I wasn't born rich, but I amnot going to go out and rob a bank. The guy/ girl is looking for publicity. He got his 15 minutes, now go away.

by Mary	03/05/07 05:01 AM
I think this protest against discrimination is very good. It shows that not all christians are narrow minded. But I'm afraid that Stanton's gender change was just a pretext for the commissioners to fire him. Now they cann't hide their real reasons.

by marci	03/05/07 04:53 AM
Well, it's about time some of these "religous leaders" actually follow Jesus' words! "love thy neighbor" etc. Too many "religous" people comdem others,quoting this and that,fueling more hatetred than love and caring! I say BRAVO to the protestors!!

by Linda	03/05/07 02:03 AM
Steve Stanton should NOT be fired. What does it matter wether he is male or female as long as he does his job.!!! I appauld his courage to be open about his sex change.

by Matt	03/05/07 01:51 AM
Finally, religious leaders are taking responsibility. So many have used religion in supporting the decision to fire Stanton. I'm pleased to see this action.

by Logan	03/05/07 01:44 AM
wonderful. i'm glad people are actually standing up for the obvious infringment on Stanton's rights as a human being. But if we force the city of Largo to keep him employed, wouldn't that be almost just as bad?

by Lew	03/05/07 12:17 AM
Isn't there something written somewhere about the separation of church and state!!!

by DB	03/04/07 10:32 PM
What a sick and depraved world we live in. How can such a perveted society continue to exist? When did the great empires of the world fall? Egypt, Rome, Greece? It was at the same point of moral depravity as we are today. Are we the next to fall?

by Richard	03/04/07 10:17 PM
Well it's good for a change to see religous leaders acting like the christians they profess to be instead of all those so called christians that spoke at the meeting. I hope they are there when it's time to have their people vote those people out.

Religious leaders to protest in Largo

They hope city commissioners will change their minds about Steve Stanton.