Ruling Protecting Transgender Workers Goes Into Effect Today!

[Guest NatashaJade]

Please read this announcment from the Transgender Law Center:

May 21, 2012: Masen Davis, Executive Director, celebrated today saying, "This is a historic day for human rights in the United States. From the Deep South to my home state of Missouri, starting today transgender and gender non-conforming people now have legal recourse if they face discrimination on the job. We no longer have to be silent when we are fired or not hired simply for being who we are. If you think you are being targeted with harassment or discrimination at work, I urge you to contact your local EEOC office and file a complaint."

(San Francisco, CA) - In a landmark ruling, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has announced that Title VII, the federal sex discrimination law, protects employees who are discriminated against because they are transgender. In its unprecedented decision, the EEOC concluded that “intentional discrimination against a transgender individual because that person is transgender is, by definition, discrimination ‘based on … sex’ and such discrimination … violates Title VII.” The EEOC is the federal agency that interprets and enforces federal employment discrimination law, and today’s decision marks the first time it has offered clear guidance on this issue.

[VickySGV]

As far as I can see, the earth is still in a stable orbit around the sun, (give or take normal anticipated deviance over several billion years) and we have not had a 3 mile northerly displacement on my side of the San Andreas earthquake fault. I guess God is not too peeved at the idea.

[Guest Ney'ite]

...we have not had a 3 mile northerly displacement on my side of the San Andreas earthquake fault.

...

<.<

>.>

We seem to be all set here in Maine, too, Vicky.

Natasha, thank you for posting, I was so happy to see this!

Now to all those radical pastors mentioned in another recent post: "Put that in your smoke and pipe it!" Hehehe

[gennee]

We still working on it here in New York State.

[Guest Ney'ite]

We still working on it here in New York State.

Hopefully they realize soon there in the Big Apple, Gennee, that this ruling is at the Federal level.

Hmm . . . I also would imagine perhaps those in power in Tennessee are squirming in their seats right about now.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Good

I wish I would have had that option three years ago.

Lizzy

[Guest NatashaJade]

What's interesting is that this is how my school district has seen it. They did not feel it necessary to specify that they protected trans people because they already had rules in place for not discriminating on the basis of gender. It's the reason I had no problems continuing in my work. Now that this decision has come down, I hope that trans teachers all over the country will be able to transition as I have, without fear of losing the jobs they have trained and worked so hard for and, for most of us, love.

xoxo

[Guest KimberlyF]

I have dealt with the EEOC before. Look at the proportionally high numbers of older people laid off or not hired. Or African Americans. They are also protected by the same law. The EEOC just added us to the list. Now it's just a simple matter of proving it beyond a shadow of a doubt that this was the only reason it was you not hired or fired and not someone else. Or the EEOC in some cases will just give you the OK to sue on your own or dismiss your claim outright.

There will be some net gain, but this is far from any end game. And places like Tenn will still run just about the same.

[Guest Lee Ann]

Good news, but like others, about a year too late for me. I was forced out of my Federal (Army civilian) job by organization leadership, forced to retire earlier than I had wanted (I had begun my transition at work a few months before). I did take the case to the local EEO, but their response: It is not in our jurisdiction. Not having deep pockets for a lawyer, I had no real alternative but to drop the case.

EEO di have another term for being pushed out, "Constructive Discharge". But they still claimed no jurisdiction.

Maybe this will help those in my position in the future.