Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Chris Geidner, BuzzFeed
September 25, 2014

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed lawsuits Thursday against two companies accused of discriminating against transgender employees, the first time the federal government has brought suit under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to protect transgender workers.

The two complaints, filed in federal courts in Florida and Michigan, are the latest — and most ambitious — steps in a series of aggressive moves taken by the commission in the past several years to advance LGBT rights under existing laws.

"This enforcement priority aims to give full force to Title VII's prohibition against sex discrimination to ensure it helps eliminate unlawful discriminatory barriers to LGBT applicants and employees," EEOC General Counsel David Lopez said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "It seeks to ensure employers aren't considering irrelevant factors, like gender-based stereotypes or gender identity, in making employment decisions."

Thursday's actions and much of the work that preceded it followed from an April 2012 decision of the commission — a five-member board that controls the decisions of the independent agency — holding that discrimination against transgender people is "sex discrimination" within the meaning of the phrase in Title VII's employment discrimination ban.

More: http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/federal-government-sues-companies-over-anti-transgender-disc?utm_term=ybhdfy#3ucs5d8 (http://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/federal-government-sues-companies-over-anti-transgender-disc?utm_term=ybhdfy#3ucs5d8)

I hope the government wins. I just hope they win.

Quote from: suzifrommd on September 25, 2014, 01:33:16 PM
I hope the government wins. I just hope they win.

I hope so too.  But either way it hurts these companies' bottom lines and serves as a warning shot to anyone who discriminates.  Defending a lawsuit that involves the feds is never easy on one's resources.

If the government wins doesn't that establish a clear nationwide precedent that existing law coveres discrimination on gender identity?

No, just in those two regions. If one of them appeals to the supreme court and loses, then it becomes nationwide.

OK, So the Federal Government is going to sue companies of transgender discrimination? Very interesting. HMMM. So transgenders can't serve openly in the military, even in non combat units that wouldn't be too much of a problem for those of us that want to serve our country instead of getting elected and getting rich? Like Jessica's post, Medicare will not cover SRS? Again HMMM. Sorry that is doctors that won't take Medicare for SRS. But still if you are an out MTF or FTM, you can't serve your country in the military? I think a lot of people want to be reelected in 2014 and 2016. Sorry but until we can serve openly in a government institution like the military, I can't see nothing but a bunch of pandering. Plus if they sue and win, are they gonna' give us all HRT and SRS for free? They are sure to get a big settlement. ::)

Follow up:
http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11136