So I work with the developmentally disabled also known as the mentally retarded in some states. What I do is work in a group home making sure the clients are clean healthy fed and have thier meds. Well I recently came out at work because my name is changing next month. Well the higher ups instantly jumped on my case. I have to transfer which house I am in because the guardians of my clients say no male staff. Well okay fine whatever. Then I started looking at houses to transfer to and bid on and every house I choose they come back and say of that house has to be all female staff. Wtf? They say I have to transfer by my name change because since I will have a male name I will be male. Well I live in the state of Ohio and I was wondering what I could do to fight this. Its not like I will instantly grow a penis as much as I wish I would. Also my employer considers themselves and equal opportunity employer. Dont know if that makes a difference. I just want the found the legalities of what is going on. I want to see if what they are doing is proper. If they are not I am going to fight them hardcore. Any help you can give me will be amazing.

Wow...hardly equal opportunity if they keep saying 'female only'.    I'm not sure what the legalities of that are, but I wish you luck. That doesn't sound like a good thing.

I can well understand were people responsible for taking care of an 'at risk' population that can be easily exploited would shy away from anything that might even cast the shadow of possible harm. 

Quote from: tekla on November 18, 2009, 01:44:37 PM
I can well understand were people responsible for taking care of an 'at risk' population that can be easily exploited would shy away from anything that might even cast the shadow of possible harm.

Explain please

Wouldn't not allowing male staff be under sexual discrimination? Plus, I don't think a male working in a mentally handicapped facility would initiate any type of concern where they wouldn't be allowed. I don't know Ohio's laws, but it sounds to me like major violations are going on.

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Post Merge: November 18, 2009, 04:27:42 PM

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Quote from: tekla on November 18, 2009, 01:44:37 PMI can well understand were people responsible for taking care of an 'at risk' population that can be easily exploited would shy away from anything that might even cast the shadow of possible harm.

Females can injure, harm and exploit these people too. It happens alot in nursing homes. When hiring they need to pay attention to the person's personality and experience- not their sex.

I can understand the female only house thing. But if all you are doing is changing your name not your gender marker I am a little confused. You are still legally female so not sure what thier logic is there. If you tried to work at a male only house they would say no because you are still legally female, so where are you suppose to apply.  I would go at it from the fact that you are still legally female, regardless of what your name is a name does not change your gender. There fore you are still eligible to work at an all female house.
Andrew- Myles

Hi Jake,

In your experience, has the staff all been female? If so, they may just be treating you as any other male.

Well the house I am at yes its always been female because the girls in it are man crazy. They love them hardcore. But this is the first I have heard that all female houses in my agency are all female staff. We have a lot of male staff. I dont know here the work exactly but I am going to my agency office on friday to invetigate. Plus each house in my agency has a manager and a lot are gay and understand me very well so I have confided in them and they are also helping see what exactly right or wrong. Its going to be a battle I have this feeling. Another problem is the job i have now in the house I am at I get 64 hours I work. The jobs they are trying to make me take are only around 40 hours. I cant afford that hour cut. I dont know what to do or where to start.

start with your states eeo office explain to them whats going on to see if their in violation of any of ohios laws or federal laws you can lodge a complaint with them if they are in violation of any state laws once a complaint is lodged any disciplinary actions that are not well documented would be considered retalitory
30 East Broad Street, 18th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215-3414
Phone: 614.466.8380
Fax: 614.728.5628
Do this imeadiately because of time lines that need to be followed if there are males working in your facility then there is a good possibility what they are doing is illegal.
jessica

I will call them first thing monday morning.

I am just getting so annoyed because they keep telling me I need to transfer houses. And they wont help me. Plus I bid on a house to move in and the guardians of the house asked for no gay employees so now they wont let me work in that house ether. WTF? I dunno what to do.

I am confused they seem to be referring to your gender or sexual preference as both male and then female based on how to exclude you from any of the houses. They need to pick one and sick with it. or I am just not getting it, always a possibility. (and highly likely)
Myles/Andrew

Quote from: JakeDenver on November 18, 2009, 06:15:47 PM
Well the house I am at yes its always been female because the girls in it are man crazy. They love them hardcore. But this is the first I have heard that all female houses in my agency are all female staff. We have a lot of male staff. I dont know here the work exactly but I am going to my agency office on friday to invetigate. Plus each house in my agency has a manager and a lot are gay and understand me very well so I have confided in them and they are also helping see what exactly right or wrong. Its going to be a battle I have this feeling. Another problem is the job i have now in the house I am at I get 64 hours I work. The jobs they are trying to make me take are only around 40 hours. I cant afford that hour cut. I dont know what to do or where to start.

That sounds promising.  Maybe because the agency is an EOE, they'll end up promoting you to some kind of management position where you might not get to work directly with clients but might get paid better. 

Sounds like you're fighting hard and investigating all your options.  Hope something works out!

It would be nice to be a manager but they will not promote me to manager because i dont have enough experience in the field or i dont have my degree yet. Its lame. I only need this job until summer then I want to get the heck out of here. But i must fight my battle for now. Thank you everyone for your input. I am going to keep on fighting and keep on trying to make them do what is right. Its wierd cuz i think they still see me as a gay female but yet also see me as male.

Wow bro, that's some serious B.S. As Myles put it, you may want to talk to a higher up and tell them to set it straight which gender you are to be treated as, and assist you in moving accordingly, if necessary. They can't go back and forth on this and screw you out of employment because they're too busy hemming and hawwing over the implications. They need to pick one, and confirm it, then inform you as to which houses you're allowed to work in based on that. Make sure that when you do talk to a boss, that you write down lists, numbers, and names, if you don't have those things already, so you know who told you what and when, so you have all of your information set straight in case things flare up again. They need to let you do your damn job. Best of luck, bra.

I think what i am going to do is put together a list ofall houses in the agency then go to the office and ask which houses i can not work at and why. Therefore that is stuck instone and once i bid on a house they cant say i cat work there. Also I would go to the higher up but she is a biotch and is the one who said i need to change to a male staff house once my name is changed.

Oh ya and I am in Ohio and in ohio you can have your therapist fill out this paper and my drivers license can say male. 

They should be thankful to have your services.

Whether you are male or female should not be an issue. That you do your job well is the only important aspect.

The true clients are the people you actually serve. It is their happiness that is vital.

Has anyone asked their opinions regarding your services?

You need to submit everything in writing to them and ask to only have responses in writing. If you ever have to go to court you'll need that.
Also.. just asking for everything in writing lets them know that you're thinking in that direction without having to say it. And... it should sufficently scare them into not being such dillweeds.

Good luck!!

I completely second getting everything in writing. It may not be illegal for them to discriminate against you for your male identity, but not letting you work at a specific house because you're gay? There's definitely some trouble to stir up over that.

Everything in writing. If they're still being d*cks, then take that stack of paper to a lawyer and have THEM come back to clarify as to why you can or can't work in a specific house.


Also, start looking for another job. Even if you get this cleared up and keep your job at some other house, there's a good chance they'll try and fire you based on some other 'unrelated' discrepancy or on fabricated behavior or performance 'problems', and that sort of thing is a lot harder to fight. Be prepared to take your experience and ability elsewhere if need be.

I have a few places I am going to look into getting a job at. I just really like my job. And the one girl I take care of was crying the other day walking around the house saying I dont want Jessica to leave. Seeing as though thats the name they know me by. It was sad and I told my boss about it since she is on my side and is going to talk to th office abou changing rules a my house. I just have to wait unil monday.