Former city worker sues Charlotte over sex change

CHARLOTTE — A former city operations assistant at a Charlotte maintenance facility has sued the city, claiming she was fired because she had a sex change.

The Charlotte Observer reported Thursday that Anne Marie Clukey said she was fired because she did not conform to her supervisor’s “gender stereotype.” The 60-year-old Clukey worked for the city for nearly two years. Court documents said she had “gender reassignment” surgery in May 2001.

Clukey worked at a maintenance facility where police and other city vehicles are repaired. Co-workers at the facility referred questions about Clukey to city officials.

City attorney Mac McCarley said a legal response has not yet been filed, but that the city will deny any liability. He said transgendered individuals do not have any rights under the federal employment discrimination laws.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)