Grounds for Termination?

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I just received an email from an old friend; she's apparently just been fired from her job as an engineer for disclosing that she is transgendered. Because of our friendship, and probably a bit because I've just moved away from my hometown, she'd told me she was transsexual a few months ago. She continued to present as a male until after she'd consulted a therapist and started taking hormones. Her next step on the journey,having old friends and family, was to come out at work. She was promptly terminated and asked not to return to her lab. Her things were gathered by security and she was immediately escorted to the parking lot. Frankly, I find this kind of reaction shocking and disturbing on so many levels. That it's even legal is mind-boggling. I also now feel a little guilty because I'd encouraged her to be bold and now she's unemployed and probably a little bit frightened. What do you all think? Is it fair that she was fired?