Thursday, May 12, 2011
Transgender Employee Files Charges of Discriminaiton Against Hobby Lobby
http://www.nowingaychicago.com/2011/05/transgender-employee-files-charges-of.html (http://www.nowingaychicago.com/2011/05/transgender-employee-files-charges-of.html)
CHICAGO - Meggan Sommerville, a transgender employee who has worked for Hobby Lobby in Aurora for a number of years has filed two charges of discrimination alleging Hobby Lobby discriminated against her when it denied her use of the women's restroom and then wrote her up for using the men's restroom. Betty Tsamis of Tsamis Law Firm PC in Chicago represents Meggan.
Meggan began to transition from male to female in July 2010. That same month, Ms. Sommerville legally changed her name from Mark Thomas Sommerville and additionally had her Illinois Driver's License gender marker changed from male to female. Hobby Lobby management has prohibited Meggan from using the women's restroom in the store where she works. Meggan has been forced to use the men's restroom. However, this is very distressing to Meggan, who presents as female.
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Transgender woman says employer forces her to use men's room
Posted 5/14/11 4:13 p.m.
http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2186806&spid (http://www.wlsam.com/Article.asp?id=2186806&spid)
A west suburban transgender woman has filed two charges of discrimination with the state against the Aurora arts and crafts store she has worked at for a number of years, stating that management has barred her from using the women's restroom and threatened her with further disciplinary action if she were to use the women's room in the future.
Meggan Sommerville of Oswego was born Mark Sommerville, according to the charges filed in April with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR).
Sommerville has worked for Hobby Lobby, an arts and crafts supply store, in Aurora "for a number of years," according to her lawyer, Betty Tsamis. In July of 2010, Sommerville began to transition from male to female, the charges state.