Beyond Veronica Doe’s story of discrimination by the Federal Air Marshals last week, we have discrimination alleged by managers of the same federal agency: this time against lesbians, gays, and African Americans.

As a photographic evidence of the allegedly bigoted office climate, a “Jeopardy Game Board” — a mock-up of the Jeopardy game drawn with blue marker on a whiteboard — gays were allegedly referred to as “Pickle Smokers,” lesbians allegedly referred to as “creatures,” and African-Americans allegedly referred to by “Our Gang.” The game board was allegedly frequently updated. The CNN article on this story states that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA – the parent agency of FAMS), but my single source states that whiteboard was allegedly up at the Orlando Field Office of Federal Air Marshals (FAMS).

Veronica Doe is based out of the FAMS’ Miami Field Office. Her complaint contains some the allegations related to the discrimination at the Orlando Field Office.

Image: 'Jeopardy Game Board' from the Orlando Federal Air Marshals Office

From CNN‘s Derogatory ‘Jeopardy’ board launches TSA probe (emphasis added):

The Transportation Security Administration has launched an internal investigation into an air marshal field office in Florida where supervisors are alleged to have used a crew assignment board to ridicule and keep score on women, gays and minorities, sources told CNN.

The board, resembling the TV game show “Jeopardy,” includes categories such as “pickle smokers,” “our gang” and “creatures,” which sources said were names used by managers for gay men, African-Americans and lesbians.

A photograph of the board was sent to CNN. The Transportation Security Administration confirmed the investigation in a written statement but did not elaborate on when the board was in use, where it was displayed or how it was used.

From the TSA’s statement on this whiteboard, as reported from CNN:

The Transportation Security Administration is dedicated to ensuring all employees are treated in a fair and lawful manner. Accordingly, TSA takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. The Federal Air Marshal Service will continue to provide its full cooperation and support to the investigation

…The Transportation Security Administration is dedicated to ensuring all employees are treated in a fair and lawful manner,” it said. “Accordingly, TSA takes all allegations of misconduct seriously. The Federal Air Marshal Service will continue to provide its full cooperation and support to the investigation.

The L, G, and T subcommunities of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, and the African-American community are all allegedly targeted for discriminatory behavior within the TSA’s Florida FAMS Field Offices. It appears to me that discrimination and hate against minority, identity community members doesn’t seem to be affected by the kind of lines we in minority communities often draw between groups. If one is predisposed to discriminate against one minority group’s members, it appears to me that one is predisposed to multiple minority groups’ members; Racism, homophobia, and transphobia seem tied together in those predisposed to hate or discriminate.

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Related:

* Sex And Gender Based Employment Discrimination By Homeland Security Department Alleged

* New York Times: “New Protections for Transgender Federal Workers”

* U.S. Government Adds Gender Identity Protections To USAJobs Website

* Maddow: Obama Names First Transgender Nominee; USAJobs Adds Gender Identity