Of course I would, assuming they qualify for the job.

Yes. Wait, Wright isn't behind this?

I think it depends entirely on where you're located. The trans community is not even remotely close to the mainstream acceptance that the gay community is beginning to experience. The way the local community would react to this "obviously trans" person varies greatly by state and city (this is specific to the U.S.).

I would certainly hope that they are in a place where there'd be at least moderate acceptance initially. While I agree with the sentiment I'm seeing expressed here that they deserve to be hired based on merit, I'm not sure you're all taking the hypothetical context into consideration here.

The truth is, with many small businesses (if not most) already struggling to make ends meet, there are communities in which hiring an "obviously trans" individual who interacts with the customers would not be accepted by most (or they'd simply prefer whatever alternative was available), and you'd lose your business and livelihood as a result.

Really, I'd hope that larger businesses might pick up the slack of those small business owners who might be one good but unsupported hiring away from destitution. It'd be nice to see some major companies and corporations make an effort to hire these people so that we all become more accustomed to interacting with them and, hopefully sooner rather than later, they gain mainstream acceptance.

You've got to have a great deal of courage to live sincerely as a transgender person... People can be so cruel.

It depends on who their competition is.

If that person is the only one qualified or best qualified for the roll then they would get the job, but if their appearance can effect their ability to sell goods for my business or shop I manage and other people are of an equal skill level but the non-transgendered people are more appealing physically to the point where they won't have issues selling goods then that would effect my choice and I wouldn't hire the transgendered individual.

As sad as it may sound appearance is an important quality within the retail sector, so looks would be a factor, but that goes the same for anyone regardless of their sex, age or race. As a figure head representative for your company or the business you manage you would have to consider these things.

It's unrealistic to ignore the customers comfort as they shop, the customer is always paramount, because they're spending their money and are the reason you will even have a job in the future.

If i felt I could make money by hiring them i would.

If they didnt dress trashy to get attention to the fact and brought up their minority and how they are mistreated by everyone to customers every 5mins then sure.

So gender discrimination is good with you when a person's gender has no direct relevance to the job? Refusing to hire a transgender person BECAUSE they are transgender is no different to refusing to hire a woman or a man because they are a woman or a man. If having boobs, a vagina or a penis is not inherently necessary as part of the job then gender discrimination is immoral and wrong, and people should not submit to it just because some bigots in the community would say boo. Some things are more imporant than profits, and that's why we have laws to regulate employment practices.

Fortunately anti-discrimination laws in civilised countries are not contingent on the acceptance of a particularly intolerant demographic who may happen to be concentrated in a particular town or locality. 

Yes, why not?

My uncle owns a construction company in California and is now forced to hire a transexual. So basically he can't find any that want to work there so he has to hire someone to basically do nothing. Don't ya love this overly PC world.

While I agree with you, the reality of the world is that many small businesses are dependent for there very survival on the good will of the bigots and rednecks. taking a stance against discrimination is great, sacrifising your business, your family and potentially your own well being is another thing entirely. Truth is there are some roles that require discrimination to be successful. that may require a woman for the comfort of women shoppers, a man for the comfort of stuck up men if that is your audience or whatever. In the end the customer is always right no matter how bigoted they are as it is their money you are trying to get, taking a moral stand and going bankrupt doesn't serve you or them any good. The bigger stores though I can't see any justification for a manager ever refusing based on gender (trans or otherwise).