Spradlin says her gender identity probably wasn’t the only reason she was laid off from a Burleson aircraft maintenance company, but then again, it was only the 2 trans employees who were let go
![]() |
Jamy Spradlin checks out an old Air Force bomber at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas’ Love Field. Spradlin recently lost her job as a mechanic for an aircraft maintenance company in Burleson, and she believes that, for the second time, her gender identity played a role in her losing a job. DAVID TAFFET/Dallas Voice |
Jamy Spradlin has lost her job for the second time in two years. And once again, Spradlin’s gender identity may have played a role in her being fired.
Spradlin was one of two transgender employees at an aircraft maintenance company based in Burleson. But when she arrived at work on Aug. 3, she was told that she was going to be laid off because of the economic slowdown.
That excuse seemed a little suspicious because she said she was in the middle of inspecting one airplane and had three others lined up in the hangar waiting their turn for inspection.
And, coincidentally, the layoff only involved the company’s two transgender employees.
The timing, Spradlin said, was definitely odd. For one thing, whoever took over the inspections would have to start from the beginning.
Spradlin said she believes that others in the company suspected that she was transgender from the time she started working, and that they probably went online and found articles about her that appeared earlier in the Dallas Voice.
In fact, soon after she began working at the company last October, Spradlin said, another employee approached her.
"She kind of had a hint I was transgender," Spradlin said. "We had a conversation about what she does on weekends and she showed me a picture. She was at a point of needing support. What are the odds of two transgender people being at a small company?"
Although Jeannette Burns presented as a man at work, her hair was longer than Spradlin’s, and people at the company were aware that she lived as a woman. Spradlin said she wasn’t surprised to be fired this time, and that her gender identity probably wasn’t the only factor.
Both Spradlin and Burns declined to identify the company.
She said that several months ago, she found her name forged in the log on a plane she was inspecting. The date preceded her employment there. She said she immediately reported it to the Federal Aviation Administration then told her company’s director of maintenance.
"The company denied they had anything to do with it but wanted me to cover it up by putting a sticker over it," she said.
She pointed out that the forgery was a federal offense but covering it up was another felony and refused.
The client that owned the plane admitted faking the signature after losing the signed sticker from the company. But since the company did not do the forgery, that confused Spradlin even more. If they bore no guilt, why would they compound one violation with another?
When an FAA representative came to investigate her claim the next day, she told him, "I’m probably not going to be here much longer."
She said that during her time there, she had confronted the director of maintenance over several issues, but "that event was the nail in the coffin."
She said that she was always at odds with maintenance. Burns agreed. "I was struggling to get them to order parts, to get them to fix the planes the right way," Burns said. When the director of maintenance said, "I hired you," Burns told him, "You may sign my checks, but you don’t issue my license."
Spradlin backed Burns and would not sign off if the work was below her standards, she said. But both said this went deeper than an employer/employee dispute.
"There was a good ol’ boys club and I wasn’t part of that," Spradlin said.
This wasn’t the first time Spradlin’s gender identity played a role in her losing a job.
In 2006, she was working as a corporate pilot and mechanic based at Love Field. She came out to her employer as a transgender person who was about to transition. She was placed on administrative leave that day.
After about a month-and-a-half of negotiations, she received a settlement, agreeing to resign and not name the corporation.
This time, she said she would not pursue any legal action and expected no settlement. The company is based in Johnson County, which offers no protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Had Spradlin been working in either Dallas or Fort Worth, which both have local ordinances that cover workplace discrimination, she would have had limited protection. The current version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act working its way through Congress includes protection based on gender identity as well as sexual orientation.
After being laid off, Burns quickly found part -time work with another aircraft maintenance company at the airport in Burleson.
Spradlin is looking to get back into flying. She said an ideal position would combine her skills as a mechanic and inspector with her experience as a pilot. She would like to find a corporation with a flight department whose policies include LGBT non-discrimination, because she would like to avoid another gender identity-related layoff.
As she applies for new jobs, listed on her resume will be her first position as an airframe and power plant (A&P) mechanic.
Ironically, after getting her license in 1986, she went to work for Transamerica Airlines.
E-mail taffet@dallasvoice.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition August 21, 2009.
when will you americans catch up with the rest of the world and abolish discrimintion wholeheartedly… the rest of the world has leapt ahead… the european union will not tolerate such discrimnation in any of it’s member states… hell, even little South Africa has the rights of all entrenched in their constitution… seems in your country all men are not created equal… your constitutions isn’t worth the paper it’s written on…
That’s too bad. Jamy’s such a sweet, talented, giving person. It breaks my heart that she has to endure so much drama just to be her real self.
Jamy does not deserve this type of treatment. She is an honest person concerned for everyone’s well being. I am blessed to know Jamy and love the special spirit that she carries with her. I hope and pray that a company “good enough for Jamy” and one that will make good use of her skills comes along real soon!
Jamy is a sweet friend of mine that not only have to fight the good ole boys club because she is a woman, she is also a transgender woman! That is a double hit from the good ole boys network! They don’t know what a valuable and wonderful person she is!!Jamy you will find a job that appreciate you!!
When I came out to my boss as a woman in 1999 I was fired immediately. Yes, this DOES happen. Yes, it is happening now. It is not right and must end.
No one deserves this treatment.
You know, there are many, MANY transgender folks in the Dallas community who have and are experiencing similar if not worse treatment from their employers, many of which who also come from the aviation field……
I find it in very poor taste that both the Dallas Voice and the praise choir above will single this person out and make like that this is the ONLY transperson in town that workplace discrimination has ever happened to.
Please know that the Dallas transgender community also includes those folks who are not in the Dallas Voice journalist’s crony circle……
The article is very acurate I must say. There were alot of other “non-gender” related issues especially were saftey of the aircraft was put behind cost of repairs and maintenance. Many of the pilots would come to me in the hangar and ask me about any problems not showing up in the schedualing or if they should watch out for any thing. Im not talking about aircraft that are 20-30 years old im talking mid to late 05 and 08 model aircraft. But i figure if they want to cut lose there two best and most experenced (over 30 years between me and Jamy) let them cut there own throats.
I dislike the treatment of our Transgendered friends and family (even adopted legal or in our hearts). This kind of discrimination needs to stop. I wish both Jamy and Jeannette the best of luck with finding decent replacement jobs
Those of us that are intersex, face discrimination, each and every day, we learn to deal with what happens, and not what we think might happen, I just faced it at the bank, on Cedar Springs, I’ve banked their seven years, new teller, and new manager, I just went else where, its ashamed we have to face discrimination, in our own neighborhood.
My best wishes to Jamy and her cofired coworker. Don’t just take the mistreatment as the “way it is” girl. Even if you do not want to take direct action against the company at least get them listed on the appropriate rolls as NOT LGBT FRIENDLY.
September Meadows
Ellensburg, WA
@GEAR Heretic – I don’t understand your rationale about this being in poor taste. Any time discrimination is brought to our attention it’s a good thing.
Nowhere has the Dallas Voice stated that this is the ONLY time it’s every happened and that Jamy is the ONLY one that’s it’s ever happened to.
And, yes, perhaps Jamy’s high-profile status and active involvement in various organizations just made it easier for The Voice to find out about it. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I’m sure The Voice would write about this every time it happened if the affected parties would simply let them know about it. The editors aren’t psychic after all.
I find it ironic that as I am also a transgenderd female mechanic but on land based vehicle’s I to suffered loss of my job due to the same discrimination mine ocoured in the state of New York non the less I did my job with excellent quality the management were very happy with my performance but they could not stand the fact that I was a woman doing a man’s job and I was fired this has to end for all!