So me and a friend went to Macey's to get a bra. I am presenting female. Anyway, I picked out a couple of ones to try on. The woman there told me I could not try them on unless I went to the mens department. She said I do not look female enough to be able to use that section. She also said if I dressed more feminine then i could. I informed her that my tight size 6 jeans are women's. My tall above the calf boots are women's. My shirt is a women's, and my B-cub breasts in my B-cup bra are very feminine. I then left. I waited to cry till I got outside.
It was horrible.
:(
/me hands Brooke777 some Fudgesicles
I'm sorry that you had to endure that Brooke, cis women can usually read us no matter how good we look. Macy's has deep pockets and has to concern itself about legal liability and potential for litigation, not from you and me but possibly from some dufus cis female that may accuse us of something that didn't happen. I wouldn't take it too personally even if it does feel like a personal slam against you. I shop there too, and usually get a pile of things I want to try on and go to the men's section which is always nicely partitioned off anyway. Then I make a point of leaving what I don't purchase in the men's dressing room just to put across a subtle point.
I went and talked to the manager. I was crying by then. I told her how offended I was. I then made her upset. I told her that I am redoing my whole wardrobe, and how much money I make (I make a real good living), and that Macey's will not be seeing a dime of that money. That made her quite upset since she realized the amount of money they will be losing. My next step is going to be contacting corporate. I refuse to use the men's dressing rooms! I am a woman and deserve to be treated as such! I will never be going to another Macey's!
I would say if they at least have a good talking to to that employee and allow you to use the right changing room all should be good if you like their stock.
But then again I'd probably say the same thing in your shoes.
Stick at it Brook. Keep to what you can prove and go for their throats.
This insulting sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable.
Well yes, I get you Brooke. If you present as female then you certainly should be treated accordingly and with due respect. I present androgenous, so I really wouldn't have a leg to stand on if I was to insist on using the women's dressing room. Just the same I have been invited to use the women's dressing room by female sales clerks that have been making helpful suggestions. I had three different women bringing me different styles of jeans at the Gap and I enjoyed the attention, it was not what I normally expect so I don't insist on the privilege as you rightfully should. Let us know what Macy's corporate has to say. Time for them to come into the 21st century!
Quote from: Brooke777 on October 27, 2012, 05:17:17 PM
My next step is going to be contacting corporate. I refuse to use the men's dressing rooms! I am a woman and deserve to be treated as such! I will never be going to another Macey's!
Do it. For all of us. But tell them about us too. Tell them that you'll let us all know exactly how you've been treated.
Part of educating people is dealing with this issue. You should not be upset. I understand why you are heart broken. However you've got yourself a huge lawsuit right there. It's against the law for them to do that.
One thing you have to understand is what Shantel pointed out. In general they are more likely to face problems of a man impersonating a woman and going into the woman's dressing area.
Nowadays everyone has cameras on them and if a man snuck in and took pictures of the women Macy's could get sued. So it's not a matter at first of them not accommodating you. They have to err in caution.
However by the time you got to the manager she should have apologized and escorted you back to the dressing room. Unless it was an open stall dressing room where women gather locker room style, there shouldn't be a problem. If there were stalls etc then you need to document a complaint and send it to the District Manager.
Do not hesitate to do this. I can tell you right now, threatening with "loss of sales" ala "Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman" doesn't make a dent. They don't care. The workers and the managers don't because they are usually under paid and cynical and worked to the bone.
Who cares? The legal department. I would ask for the security videos to be pulled so that you can see that you asked both the guard and the manager. Send a letter in, be sure to find the name of the people who did this and write a letter. It will go in their personnel file and when time comes to get a promotion they aren't going to get it because of this. Trust me.
If you call and complain nothing will happen. Document it.
Plan for this to happen. Be fair, it's understandable for the security to look out for the protection of the customers. But once you have stated that you are a woman and want to use the dressing room if they don't allow you, don't get upset, tell them "I get this all the time, but trust me I'm a woman" if they still deny say OK and calmly jot down the name, ask the floor and ask the time. Just jot it down and walk away.
I'm sorry you had this happen. :(
Don't boycott Macy's, sue the living pluck out of them. You've got them good because it's happened before. When corporations have patterns of discrimination and they don't properly train their staff to be able to deal with these issues you can sue. And sue big so that you can get plenty of clothes from them. You probably will get a big gift card at the very least.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/12/texas-macys-employee-fired-for-allegedly-violating-stores-lgbt-policy/ (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/12/texas-macys-employee-fired-for-allegedly-violating-stores-lgbt-policy/)
QuoteNatalie Johnson from San Antonio, Texas claims she was fired from her job at Macy's for telling a transgender customer that she could not change in the women's dressing room. (ABC News)
A Texas woman claims she was fired from her job at Macy's for telling a transgender customer that she could not change in the women's dressing room, according to ABC News' San Antonio affiliate KSAT.
The woman, Natalie Johnson, has filed a complaint with the Federal Employment Commission, saying that her religious beliefs prevent her from recognizing transgender people, according to KSAT.
Johnson, 27, was employed at the River Center Macy's in San Antonio until last week. She said a teenager caught her attention because the teen was shopping for women's clothing, but Johnson was convinced the shopper was male.
When Johnson spotted the teenager in the women's dressing area, Johnson told her she could not change there.
"I had to just be straightforward and tell him, 'You're a man,' and of course that ... really got him steamed," Johnson told KSAT.
The teenager's friends argued with Johnson, reportedly telling her that Macy's allows transgender people to change in the dressing room of the gender they identify with.
"I made my choice the other day," Johnson said. "I refuse to comply with this policy."
Please include something like this.
Dear Macy's
While you have a policy supporting the LBGQT community it is quite clear that you are not educating your staff to treat members of this community with the respect they deserve. A customer shopping is not out trying to make a political statement. In most cases a person shopping is getting something they need. When purchasing clothing it is important for the customer to try on the clothing. Because of this need your store has dressing rooms. By opening the dressing rooms you are accepting responsibility for the very real situation that transgendered people may need to use them. If you provide this service to the public it is your responsibility to establish a policy and train your staff on situations that may arise because of this policy.
Go across the street to Nordstroms, I have heard that they care about their customers quite well!
Sorry you had to deal with that! I will think about you before I go to Macy's now ;)
send a register letter to Macy's corporate quarter describing the episode, and demand monetary reparations for your pain and suffering and humilliation. Do include the document in the link
>:-)
http://www.bloomingdalesjobs.com/common/about/EEO_Policy_6-08.pdf (http://www.bloomingdalesjobs.com/common/about/EEO_Policy_6-08.pdf)
Quote from: mixie on October 27, 2012, 06:04:25 PM
Don't boycott Macy's, sue the living pluck out of them. You've got them good because it's happened before. When corporations have patterns of discrimination and they don't properly train their staff to be able to deal with these issues you can sue. And sue big so that you can get plenty of clothes from them. You probably will get a big gift card at the very least.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/12/texas-macys-employee-fired-for-allegedly-violating-stores-lgbt-policy/ (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/12/texas-macys-employee-fired-for-allegedly-violating-stores-lgbt-policy/)
Wow Mixie, great information, glad someone is on top of it!
Thank you all for the wonderful support and information. I am currently drafting my letter to corporate. I am going to have an editor I know proof the letter prior to me sending it. I want to make sure it is very effective. I will keep you all informed if this progresses any further.
They also treated my transgender friend that was with me poorly. She too walked out of there without purchasing anything.
Having it sent via your lawyer would have a lot of weight as well.
Definitely send it via your lawyer and mention that they have a repeated problem. That employee is toast.
Having been in retail for a long time, I would take it up a step to the district level. But even going to corporate, it will be directed to the district manager. And most companies don't like complaint letters. They will investigate. You can pursue it, but you most likely need to out yourself.
Since I don't really pass, I have no problem outing myself. When I talked to the manager, I informed her that I am a transwoman. I did not want them to think I am just a man in women's clothes. That I am in fact a woman.
I don't plan on going through an attorney. I am not the kind of person to sue, nor try and take someones job. I rally just want them to make an active stance against discrimination.
I did contact the trans law center to see if they could offer some assistance. Hopefully they will learn that we (trans* people) deserve to be treated just like everyone else.
I'm not a sue type myself. But you should get compensated in some way. The district manager will most likely send you a gift card and the manager and the employee will be spoken to. I'm sorry but the employee should be fired.
I have a friend who is a very unattractive female. No kidding, she's everything y'all worry about on here about not being "female enough" which I won't go into. But she's not prevented from going into the dressing room because she's not feminine enough.
You were discriminated against because of your gender not because you don't pass. Please don't ever conflate the two again.
It's a lovely double standard, isn't it? While I was living as a woman and looked like a woman (butch or otherwise, the chest is a dead giveaway), I used the men's dressing room in store after store and never got so much as a raised eyebrow.
Quote from: Arch on October 27, 2012, 10:28:09 PM
It's a lovely double standard, isn't it? While I was living as a woman and looked like a woman (butch or otherwise, the chest is a dead giveaway), I used the men's dressing room in store after store and never got so much as a raised eyebrow.
It would have been nice if my chest was a give away. Especially when I am trying on bras!
Quote from: mixie on October 27, 2012, 10:05:34 PM
I have a friend who is a very unattractive female. No kidding, she's everything y'all worry about on here about not being "female enough" which I won't go into. But she's not prevented from going into the dressing room because she's not feminine enough.
You were discriminated against because of your gender not because you don't pass. Please don't ever conflate the two again.
Granted there are more than a few cis women who would pass as men rather than as the women they are, but let me play the devil's advocate here for just a moment and point out that there was something about Brooke's appearance or demeanor that tipped the sales woman off which says that Brooke didn't pass. So yes, given the fact that it's a women's dressing room the woman disallowed Brooke, not to be mean to her, but in consideration of the sensibilities of the cis women there who would possibly be uncomfortable and offended. There is always the feelings of others that need to be considered rather than assert ourselves in the usual passive/aggressive way. What the saleswoman did may be discrimination and it may be illegal, and yet the word itself isn't as evil as the stigma society has assigned to it. In other words there is a time and place for being discriminating. I am discriminating about how I dress, what I like to eat and drink, who my friends are and where I go based on my own common sense rather than some malevolent intent. Given the fact that Brooke had recently mentioned in another thread that she isn't out at work yet speaks volumes about the entire situation as I see it, and that's why I had offered a post on how I deal with purchasing women's fashions at Macy's and the fact that if I am not invited by the saleswoman to use the woman's dressing room, I won't. Better than create a mountain over a molehill and working myself into having a prolapse over it later. Lastly, I wouldn't require Macy's to fire the woman over it because that would be equally evil, obviously Macy's hasn't done a good job of educating their staff and Brooke's letter should make that assertion and point out that possibly litigation may be in the offing.
Wow, sorry. I don't know what to say. All the clothing testing rooms are unisex around here. You always see males or females waiting at the next side of the door, just waiting to coment or go back to get a different size. I think I have never seen male / female separated rooms anywhere I have gone for shopping.
Shantel - I do see your point, and it is a valid one. However, in an attempt not to possible offend a cis-woman she deeply offended me. She could have simply assisted me in using the last stall at the end of the row. Instead, she took me out of the stall I was in, walked me to where there were other customers, and proceeded to tell me that I am not feminine enough to use that dressing room.
As my emotions level out from yesterday, my resolve to fight this has increased. I want to make sure no other trans* person gets humiliated like I did. Surprisingly, my son's mother is backing me 100%. She was shocked yesterday that I did not want to fight this more. She is helping me research lawyers in the area that will be able to help. I will not be seeking the sales woman's job, but she may lose it in the battle. I spoke with a former employee of that store who left due to the treatment she received by the woman that discriminated against me. This woman has a history of poor treatment.
I am going to fight this, and I am going to ensure they know they cannot treat people this way.
Brooke,
I get the picture a little more fully and completely understand, no-one should be humiliated in that fashion for any reason. It's wonderful that your son's mother is getting behind you on this. I'm behind you on it too. It sounds as if this creepy woman was scolding a small child and attempting to make an example in front of others. That's such a rude and wrong headed approach. If there was an issue she should have at least been much more discreet about it. Sorry you had to endure that sweetie, my best to you always! Keep us updated...(((Hugs)))
Thank you Shantel. I will update this thread once I have heard something. It will probably be a while.
Quote from: Brooke777 on October 28, 2012, 02:53:00 PM
Thank you Shantel. I will update this thread once I have heard something. It will probably be a while.
Well I think it's so great how the other women have rallied and provided you with plenty of good resources which saves a lot of valuable time having to research all that on your own. A great plus belonging to this ever growing family!
Quote from: Shantel on October 28, 2012, 02:56:41 PM
Well I think it's so great how the other women have rallied and provided you with plenty of good resources which saves a lot of valuable time having to research all that on your own. A great plus belonging to this ever growing family!
Yes, all of the resources have made writing the letter much easier. And, all the support and suggestions have helped boost my confidence and provided me with the much needed support to fight this.
To everyone who has responded, I give a great heart felt thank you! It really does mean a lot to me to receive such amazing responses from all of you.
Quote from: Brooke777 on October 27, 2012, 08:57:48 PM
I don't plan on going through an attorney. I am not the kind of person to sue, nor try and take someones job.
I am not typically the sue type either.... but.... I have been rear-ended twice at the same intersection in the last 5 years, and both times the other driver's insurance was GEICO. They refused to covered rehab therapy for my back to cover medical costs the first time. You see, I tried to follow a medical routine, but had a few breaks while I was looking for the right therapist. They screwed me over. This time I did everything right.... and they refused to cover anything. So I engaged an attorney to get tehm to settle.... they refused. So we are litigating.
SCREW'EM.
Silence let's them win. Stand up and FIGHT. BE heard, be strong!!
Bets wishes
D
P.S. I guess I am lucky... I have had no refusals for trying anything on in the womens dressing rooms.
That is not to say I have not been read - three times.
Once by a make-up artist - she is not getting my business again.
Once in a mall - a teenager. I do not think I was presenting my best.
And once by a woman after I left a nail salon. My wife was still there and the lady was going on and on.... but not a complete read as she thought I might be a man, but was not sure. _ITCH!
Quote from: Shantel on October 28, 2012, 11:40:07 AM
Granted there are more than a few cis women who would pass as men rather than as the women they are, but let me play the devil's advocate here for just a moment and point out that there was something about Brooke's appearance or demeanor that tipped the sales woman off which says that Brooke didn't pass. So yes, given the fact that it's a women's dressing room the woman disallowed Brooke, not to be mean to her, but in consideration of the sensibilities of the cis women there who would possibly be uncomfortable and offended. There is always the feelings of others that need to be considered rather than assert ourselves in the usual passive/aggressive way. What the saleswoman did may be discrimination and it may be illegal, and yet the word itself isn't as evil as the stigma society has assigned to it. In other words there is a time and place for being discriminating. I am discriminating about how I dress, what I like to eat and drink, who my friends are and where I go based on my own common sense rather than some malevolent intent. Given the fact that Brooke had recently mentioned in another thread that she isn't out at work yet speaks volumes about the entire situation as I see it, and that's why I had offered a post on how I deal with purchasing women's fashions at Macy's and the fact that if I am not invited by the saleswoman to use the woman's dressing room, I won't. Better than create a mountain over a molehill and working myself into having a prolapse over it later. Lastly, I wouldn't require Macy's to fire the woman over it because that would be equally evil, obviously Macy's hasn't done a good job of educating their staff and Brooke's letter should make that assertion and point out that possibly litigation may be in the offing.
I understand exactly what you are saying but in this case you are wrong. (sorry I tried to consider if I should word that more gently like "I think you're wrong," but it's not that I think you are wrong. You are definitely wrong.)
The sales woman had a right to question Brooke. In fact she had an obligation to do so for the reasons you mention. However once Brooke stated that she was a woman the sales woman should have let her in the dressing room.
There is no reason for ciswomen to be offended unless it was a shared lockeroom style dressing room. OMG this makes me so infuriated so excuse me if I come across aggressively because it isn't directed at you.
If a ciswoman is so offended she can pick her frickin' butt up and leave and come back later. We all have choices in what we can do. It's the same thing about using a bathroom. It's not as if a transgender woman is going to be peeing at the sink and freaking out the ladies. We're all in stalls and the cisgender women are not chained to the toilets. If a transgender woman comes in and they don't like then they can leave.
The same thing here. Brooke is trying on bras to see if they fit. She's not going into the dressing room to oogle the other women.
This isn't discriminating in the fine sense of the word in which you have used it. It's the ugly brutish type of discrimination. If Brooke says she's a woman but she's kind enough to admit she doesn't pass, then all she needs to do is tell the sales woman "Oh I understand, I'm a transgender woman" and the sales clerk should then say "Oh I see, tell you what let me find you a dressing room"
Even that is wrong but the worst case scenario situation.
How in the world is a woman supposed to prove she's really a woman? And what if she WAS a cisgender woman. Would the sales clerk have asked her to drop her drawers to see her vagina and then let her in?
No
What exactly is the problem here? The problem is that society is only acknowledging binary gender codes instead of the reality of more. Macy's is PROVIDING the dressing room for the public to try on clothing. Therefor they need to meet the needs of the customer. In reality this issue is going to come up a lot more in a store with a dressing room than it will for any other type of industry.
Let's create a really different situation. Say for example a black man comes into a fancy restaurant and orders a $100 bottle of wine. The waiter is racist and resents having to serve him. So he cards the man saying "I can't serve it to you unless I see some ID" and then man pulls out the "ID" and then the waiter says "Well since the wine is so expensive I'm going to have to charge you up front" and the man says "No problem" and pulls out two hundred dollars and gives it to the waiter. The waiter goes to the front and says "I think this is fake ID and money" then he comes back to the table and says I don't believe these are real and gives it back to the black man and refuses to serve him. What is that black man supposed to do. Now imagine he's out with a woman on a date. The waiter is using him power of control to ruin the man's day because can.
He's doing it because he's racist. Not because he doesn't believe the man. He's just using it as an excuse. It's the same thing. And there's no pretending here that it's not exactly what it is.
If I was a sales clerk at Macy's and a transgender woman came in to use the dressing room I would be thrilled to be in a position of making her day a lot easier than normal.
And I'd escort her in and ask her to let me know if she had any problems. If some cisgendered woman came out frazzled and annoyed and complained, I'd say "Nope that's a woman in there don't you worry but if you see her doing anything weird let me know, otherwise if it makes you that uncomfortable why not come back later."
Quote from: mixie on October 29, 2012, 06:44:44 AM
What exactly is the problem here? The problem is that society is only acknowledging binary gender codes instead of the reality of more.
The bad news is that it will never change even if we strive diligently to teach people otherwise, because people are human beings and no amount of legislation, training or code breaking is going to make someone like or even accept another human being.
Early into my transition I was visiting a urologist at the local VA hospital and the black male nurse became incensed that I had an orchiectomy and was on female HRT and went off on me. There was a sign over the door I had just entered that said something about respecting diversity. Rather than get my nose all out of joint I called his attention to it and made the point that being white I had managed to control myself over the fact that he is black, everything changed immediately. This would have been a good way for Brooke to have handled that situation had she known her rights and the fact that every major institution in the US is subject to and has an anti-discrimination policy in place.
It's a lovely double standard, isn't it?
It is. I remember getting fitted for a rental suit for my kid's wedding while a woman was in the next stall getting fitted for a full tux for another wedding. This being Santa Rosa, no big deal. No deal at all.1
And I'd be curious as to what cultural backwash this happened in. The Macy's in Texas, no shock. Had that been in SF, LA, NYC, Miami, Seattle, I'd be shocked. But Texas - par for the course. So you obviously have a conflict between Macy's corporate policy (set in NY, by New Yorkers) and local customs, standards and practices.
1. That's because 'no one cares'. Which in this case is cool, but remember (recently even) that lots of people come to LA/SF/NYC to find the freedom of 'no one cares' only to leave pretty fast because 'no one cares' runs both ways. What you give up is that no matter how special a snowflake you are, no one is going to care about that (or cut you any slack because of it either).
Quote from: tekla on October 29, 2012, 09:04:25 AM
It's a lovely double standard, isn't it?
It is. I remember getting fitted for a rental suit for my kid's wedding while a woman was in the next stall getting fitted for a full tux for another wedding. This being Santa Rosa, no big deal. No deal at all.1
And I'd be curious as to what cultural backwash this happened in. The Macy's in Texas, no shock. Had that been in SF, LA, NYC, Miami, Seattle, I'd be shocked. But Texas - par for the course. So you obviously have a conflict between Macy's corporate policy (set in NY, by New Yorkers) and local customs, standards and practices.
1. That's because 'no one cares'. Which in this case is cool, but remember (recently even) that lots of people come to LA/SF/NYC to find the freedom of 'no one cares' only to leave pretty fast because 'no one cares' runs both ways. What you give up is that no matter how special a snowflake you are, no one is going to care about that (or cut you any slack because of it either).
I am in the Seattle area. This was in an area about 10 miles north of Seattle. Not a small, back country place.
Quote from: Shantel on October 29, 2012, 08:48:28 AM
The bad news is that it will never change even if we strive diligently to teach people otherwise, because people are human beings and no amount of legislation, training or code breaking is going to make someone like or even accept another human being.
Early into my transition I was visiting a urologist at the local VA hospital and the black male nurse became incensed that I had an orchiectomy and was on female HRT and went off on me. There was a sign over the door I had just entered that said something about respecting diversity. Rather than get my nose all out of joint I called his attention to it and made the point that being white I had managed to control myself over the fact that he is black, everything changed immediately. This would have been a good way for Brooke to have handled that situation had she known her rights and the fact that every major institution in the US is subject to and has an anti-discrimination policy in place.
Sadly, I am well versed in anti descrimination and harasment laws. I reacted the best I could. I was so humiliated that it took everything I had not to break down and cry righ there. I also did not want to draw a lot of attention to myself. It was not till my emotions died down a bit that the fire to fight came in.
For your situation, I would not have handled it so well. The VA is not a place where I can even remotely tolerate any sort of discrimination. I know their policies far too well.
Quote from: mixie on October 29, 2012, 06:44:44 AM
I understand exactly what you are saying but in this case you are wrong. (sorry I tried to consider if I should word that more gently like "I think you're wrong," but it's not that I think you are wrong. You are definitely wrong.)
The sales woman had a right to question Brooke. In fact she had an obligation to do so for the reasons you mention. However once Brooke stated that she was a woman the sales woman should have let her in the dressing room.
There is no reason for ciswomen to be offended unless it was a shared lockeroom style dressing room. OMG this makes me so infuriated so excuse me if I come across aggressively because it isn't directed at you.
If a ciswoman is so offended she can pick her frickin' butt up and leave and come back later. We all have choices in what we can do. It's the same thing about using a bathroom. It's not as if a transgender woman is going to be peeing at the sink and freaking out the ladies. We're all in stalls and the cisgender women are not chained to the toilets. If a transgender woman comes in and they don't like then they can leave.
The same thing here. Brooke is trying on bras to see if they fit. She's not going into the dressing room to oogle the other women.
This isn't discriminating in the fine sense of the word in which you have used it. It's the ugly brutish type of discrimination. If Brooke says she's a woman but she's kind enough to admit she doesn't pass, then all she needs to do is tell the sales woman "Oh I understand, I'm a transgender woman" and the sales clerk should then say "Oh I see, tell you what let me find you a dressing room"
Even that is wrong but the worst case scenario situation.
How in the world is a woman supposed to prove she's really a woman? And what if she WAS a cisgender woman. Would the sales clerk have asked her to drop her drawers to see her vagina and then let her in?
No
What exactly is the problem here? The problem is that society is only acknowledging binary gender codes instead of the reality of more. Macy's is PROVIDING the dressing room for the public to try on clothing. Therefor they need to meet the needs of the customer. In reality this issue is going to come up a lot more in a store with a dressing room than it will for any other type of industry.
Let's create a really different situation. Say for example a black man comes into a fancy restaurant and orders a $100 bottle of wine. The waiter is racist and resents having to serve him. So he cards the man saying "I can't serve it to you unless I see some ID" and then man pulls out the "ID" and then the waiter says "Well since the wine is so expensive I'm going to have to charge you up front" and the man says "No problem" and pulls out two hundred dollars and gives it to the waiter. The waiter goes to the front and says "I think this is fake ID and money" then he comes back to the table and says I don't believe these are real and gives it back to the black man and refuses to serve him. What is that black man supposed to do. Now imagine he's out with a woman on a date. The waiter is using him power of control to ruin the man's day because can.
He's doing it because he's racist. Not because he doesn't believe the man. He's just using it as an excuse. It's the same thing. And there's no pretending here that it's not exactly what it is.
If I was a sales clerk at Macy's and a transgender woman came in to use the dressing room I would be thrilled to be in a position of making her day a lot easier than normal.
And I'd escort her in and ask her to let me know if she had any problems. If some cisgendered woman came out frazzled and annoyed and complained, I'd say "Nope that's a woman in there don't you worry but if you see her doing anything weird let me know, otherwise if it makes you that uncomfortable why not come back later."
Thank you. If she would have helped me find a dressing room after I informed her I am a woman, then there would not have been much of an issue. I would have just let it go. I still would have been a little upset, but I would have quickly got over it.
If it was Seattle, take it to corporate.
This is just an update. The Washington Human Rights Commission has filed a discrimination complaint against Macy's, and the ACLU in Washington is persuing legal retribution from corporate. Hopefully I will hear more in the next few weeks.
Wow! thats some big time support!!! :)
very nice!
Quote from: Michelle G on November 12, 2012, 03:42:00 PM
Wow! thats some big time support!!! :)
very nice!
Yeah, I don't handle discrimination very well. I tend to take a fighting response. The ACLU lawyer asked me what I was seeking. I told her I just want to make sure something like this does not happen to anyone else. She was pleased by that response.
Sounds like you looked through your tool box and brought out the big hammer, atta girl! :eusa_clap:
Quote from: Brooke777 on November 12, 2012, 02:31:53 PM
This is just an update. The Washington Human Rights Commission has filed a discrimination complaint against Macy's, and the ACLU in Washington is persuing legal retribution from corporate. Hopefully I will hear more in the next few weeks.
Good, and when you get your settlement be sure to buy something extra nice for yourself to remind you.
You're gonna get some ca ching! Definitely.
You know I love Teddy Roosevelt.... one because any MAN that is called Teddy and still exzudes the machismo he had as a soldier and then president, well, he deserves our respect.
Second.... his saying "walk softly and carry a big stick," is exactly what us t-girls should do. Act like you own, or deserve to be where you are, and own it. If someone tries to stand in your way with discrimination, get your stick out ( sorry that sounded a little perverted but you know what i mean), and bash back ( legally of course).
Live long and prosper
D
Good on you Brooke. I was insulted once being called male when I was presenting as female in a store here. I went nuts. The woman was fired on the spot, I got the coat I wanted to buy for free and a policy statement was sent around all the stores.
Last time I had a bra fitting I was taken into the cubicle she measured me and we tried several different styles. There was no hesitation. she even helped and advised me about setting my boobs more comfortably.
I just finally heard back from the Macy's attorney. The woman that discriminated against me has been fired. The manager that did not support me is on suspension, and Macy's has retrained all of the local store employees on how to properly conduct themselves.
I am glad to know that no one else will face this type of treatment at this store again.
Thank God, Brooke, I am so glad to hear this good news. Good for you for taking the opportunity to report it. And so much good happened because of it! It is moments like this that makes me very proud to be in a group of people so good as this. Good job, and good luck in the future. I hope you never have to go through this again.
Thank you Seb.
You rock, Girlfriend.
Do not piss our Brooke off.
Quote from: Ms. OBrien on December 18, 2012, 03:03:21 PM
You rock, Girlfriend.
Do not piss our Brooke off.
Thank you. I did not really do much. I let the ACLU and Washington Human Rights Commision do all the leg work. >:-)
Quote from: Brooke777 on December 18, 2012, 02:37:06 PM
I just finally heard back from the Macy's attorney. The woman that discriminated against me has been fired. The manager that did not support me is on suspension, and Macy's has retrained all of the local store employees on how to properly conduct themselves.
I am glad to know that no one else will face this type of treatment at this store again.
An Atta Girl for our Brooke! Sounds like an appropriate course of action taken by Macy's, Personally I like shopping there! Been waiting for you to get some resolution on that situation because I've been thinking of trying on some women's skinny jeans and didn't relish the idea of having to pack them down the hall to the men's dressing rooms. Gaaah!
Quote from: Shantel on December 18, 2012, 04:37:21 PM
An Atta Girl for our Brooke! Sounds like an appropriate course of action taken by Macy's, Personally I like shopping there! Been waiting for you to get some resolution on that situation because I've been thinking of trying on some women's skinny jeans and didn't relish the idea of having to pack them down the hall to the men's dressing rooms. Gaaah!
Thanks.
You are safe to shop there again ;D
Quote from: Brooke777 on December 18, 2012, 04:47:02 PM
Thanks.
You are safe to shop there again ;D
Well someone has to blaze a path through a minefield, glad you stepped up to the task dear!
That's great news Brooke!
If I go shopping when I get a chance to head back to the NW it will be one less place to worry about :)
Very proud of you, Brooke. I'm happy that you fought for yourself and that good won today and triumphed over the evil of intolerance.
Quote from: Brooke777 on December 18, 2012, 02:37:06 PM
I just finally heard back from the Macy's attorney. The woman that discriminated against me has been fired. The manager that did not support me is on suspension, and Macy's has retrained all of the local store employees on how to properly conduct themselves.
I am glad to know that no one else will face this type of treatment at this store again.
Nicely done.
Awesome news hon! Glad the next customers will be treated respectfully.
Thank you Maddie and F.A.
@Michelle - Washington State law is supposed to protect us all from this stuff. We are all free to shop where we want, and use the appropriate facilities.
Thanx Brooke :)
One day I will be free from the tyranny of "boy mode" ;) and will enjoy being all girl all the time! It's nice to think that society will change as well.