No oral arguments in trans-bias case
An appellate court last month declined to hear oral arguments in the employment-discrimination case involving transwoman Janis Stacy, saying it has enough information from the written briefs.
Stacy alleges wrongful termination from her engineering position at LSI Corp. due to gender, gender identity and disability bias.
Stacy worked at the Allentown electronics firm for about 10 years prior to her 2008 termination.
In September, U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno dismissed Stacy’s lawsuit, citing insufficient evidence. But Stacy’s attorneys appealed to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, contending the case should be heard by a jury. In February, they requested an opportunity to present oral arguments.
Judges D. Michael Fisher, Kent A. Jordan and Dolores K. Sloviter will decide the case on the written briefs.
Stacy also claims that LSI deliberately rated her job skills less than she deserved, in order to mask the discrimination.
But LSI maintains Stacy was terminated due to an “adverse economy,” and that she lacked the requisite skills.
Stacy is seeking an undisclosed amount in compensatory and punitive damages.
Magistrate judge to handle bullying case
Both sides in the federal case of a New Jersey boy who allegedly was pulled from school due to antigay bullying have agreed that a magistrate judge can handle the case.
Thomas Vandergrift, a Philadelphia gay man, contends his nephew had to be removed from a Pennsauken public school in 2012 due to pervasive antigay bullying.
In December, Vandergrift filed a federal suit against the Pennsauken School District, seeking an unspecified amount in compensatory and punitive damages.
Both sides recently agreed that a magistrate judge can preside over the jury trial, rather than a federal judge appointed by a U.S. president. Magistrate judges occasionally handle such matters to relieve backlog.
The 12-year-old boy, identified in court papers as D.V., suffers from autism, generalized anxiety disorder and a learning disability in math.
Vandergrift also contends that school officials wrongly accused him of child molestation after he advocated for a proper education for his nephew.
In October 2011, the state Department of Children and Families determined the molestation accusations against Vandergrift were unsubstantiated. In September 2012, after a separate lawsuit was filed, district officials agreed to pay for D.V.’s education at a private school.
— Tim Cwiek
Church observes World AIDS Day
A New Jersey church will host a two-day event featuring a free concert and worship service to commemorate World AIDS Day.
The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus will perform 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the World AIDS Day event at Centenary United Methodist Church, 149 S. White Horse Pike in Berlin, N.J. The church will then host a worship service at 9 a.m. Nov. 17.
For more information, visit www.berlinmethodist.org.
Ball benefits AIDS group
On Nov. 23, Passional will present the annual Diaboloque Ball and this year, the popular event will benefit ActionAIDS. The event begins 9 p.m. at the Trocadero Theatre, 1003 Arch St., a first-time host of the fetish-masquerade ball.
The theme is Grindhouse: Horrorshow, and the event will feature kinky carnival-style play stations, fashion shows, makeup-artistry demonstrations and live performances.
Tickets are $40 or $50 after Nov. 21 and can be purchased at www.diaboliquephilly.com.
— Angela Thomas