BRAVO ! It takes a lot of courage to make such a life altering decision. Congrats to Bell and C-FAX for their understanding and acceptance. I once worked with Sheila. Good luck to James in his new life.

It's not an easy path you have chosen, James.  Or, should I more correctly say "has chosen you."  Kudos to your employer and your coworkers for their support and good business sense.  I am a big advocate of "coming out," based on my own personal, very positive, experience over the past 17 years since I did so, but of course these are very personal and individual decisions, requiring a lot of faith in people and courage.  Best to you!!

Dear PSR Readers,

Last night one of our members posted a comment about their opposition to the decision of Sheila Gardner to have a sex change operation. It's not that I didn't agree with the poster in principal, I do. However, I felt the comments were somewhat insensitive and after a couple of hours, I made the decision to pull the post, as well as a comment with reference to the post.

First and foremost I strongly believe everyone has a right to their opinions, as well as being voiced here on our forum, yet I felt the comments within the post were not only insensitive, but judgemental of Gardner, the CFAX/KOOL and CTV2 Vancouver Island employees who openly supported her and her decision. Personally, I don't believe it's up to me or anyone else to judge another person for a decision they've obviously put considerable time and effort in making.

In closing, it was not an easy decision on my part and if I offended the poster or any of our members or readers, I apologize.

Michael E Easton
Proprietor/Publisher
Puget Sound Radio®
Email: mee@pugetsoundradio.com
website: http://www.pugetsoundradio.com



.

Not at all.  Your judgement was sound and professional as always.

Thanks Michael and everyone for your concern.  However, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.  As it applies to me, I know Mel Cooper very well, and I have a lot of respect for the man, as does he for me.

Also, at no point did I say I was having a "sex change operation".  I simply announced that I was transitioning to male.  

Transitioning can take many forms, i.e, hormones, presenting as male, etc.  Having an operation to become male is only one aspect of transitioning, and not every individual chooses to undergo surgery. It is not to be assumed.

Thank you all for your kind words and support.

James Gardner

Although I didn't read the post to which you refer Michael, I am certain that your judgement, as always in forum matters, was correct.  

Obviously this is an intensely personal and private matter, which I would have thought was clearly limited, outside of family and friends, to a "need to know" condition, for those that are inevitably involved, such as station staff, because they will obviously need to be notified of whatever cosmetic, sartorial, or other visible changes that may impact upon identifying who is in the building.    

Beyond that, it is really no ones business.  

All the best James.  As a wise person once said:  "this is the (first) day of the rest of your life."

James or Sheila, doesn't really matter.  Either/or, one of the best news readers on air.   Listened in Edmonton and now here.  Someone who can read and interpret copy with just the proper amount of authority.  Great, compared to some of the crap we are forced to hear.

James

I hope you find what you are looking for.  I also believe there are many people out there that can benefit from hearing your story and when you are ready, I hope you write it.  You will have one reader right here

James,

As usual your judgement is spot on by choosing such a sound, dignified first name like James.

Can I call you Jim?

-JM

  Congratulations James on living as the person you are supposed to be.  I am sorry there are voices of "opposition" and wish you all the best.  

I really wish I could, but I can't.

I listened to James Gardner's newscasts on this, the first day he/she was at work following the public announcement.  And for the life of me I can't picture a male entity producing those sounds on the radio.

The excellent, well modulated read was in the competent, professional manner we've grown to expect from Sheila.  Although the news reader's identification was, as advertised, James Gardner, my mind heard too many female indicators in the voice and presentation to permit me to believe a man was responsible for it.

I am in no way making a judgement on Sheila's life-altering decision; I really could care less.

But my judgement based on more than 6 decades on this earth, will just not let me picture a man behind the mike.  Perhaps more hormones need to take effect before the sound is much less (obviously, IMHO) female.

If I'm wrong, I hope there are C-FAX listeners/PSR members who will tell me so.

Ditto ( except for the six decades)

For an industry which seems to pride itself on being the champion of 'the little person' 'the underdog' and all the rest of the rhetorical left wing crap, (bullshit, of course) some of the comments in here indicate otherwise.
Some of us have fallen victim to it but there are individuals and corporations which prove otherwise.
Stay strong James, and congratulations!!

Quoted from BarkerFan

For an industry which seems to pride itself on being the champion of 'the little person' 'the underdog' and all the rest of the rhetorical left wing crap, (bullshit, of course) some of the comments in here indicate otherwise.
Some of us have fallen victim to it but there are individuals and corporations which prove otherwise.
Stay strong James, and congratulations!!

Barkerfan, I think Warren Barker would be critical of your post as defying clear interpretation.

In other words, your point has been clouded in the mess that is your verbiage, and your failure to be specific.

Please say what you mean and name names.  I too am unable to "believe" the newscaster's sound as coming from a male source.  Notwithstanding my endorsement of the individual's right to choose such a gender-switching course, if that is what will make them/him/her happy.

And I too am a big fan of Mr. Barker, the longtime heart and soul of CKNW News when it really WAS something.