IDHR dismissal of trans complaint raises questions
by Kate Sosin, Windy City Times
2012-08-29
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/IDHR-dismissal-of-trans-complaint-raises-questions/39201.html
Meggan Sommerville. Photo courtesy of SommervilleIn a stunning blow to transgender-rights advocates, the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) has thrown out a complaint by a transgender woman barred from using the women's restroom at work, despite having state ID indicating she is female.
Meggan Sommerville, a 14-year employee of Hobby Lobby, filed a complaint against her employer last year after the chain admittedly refused her access to the women's room.
The complaint argued that Hobby Lobby violated the Illinois Human Rights Act by denying her full and equal enjoyment of their services.
Sommerville had transitioned from living as male to female at the time and had obtained a driver's license indicating that she is female.
Transgender advocates have long held that the Illinois Human Rights Act, which grants equal access to public accommodations regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, protected transgender people in public restrooms, especially if they had obtained state IDs indicating their new gender identity.
"IDHR basically showed an absolute ignorance," said Sommerville, noting that the IDHR decision incorrectly refers to her being transgender as a "sexual identity."
According to Sommerville, she remains banned from using the women's room at her Aurora store.
The dismissal confirms that Hobby Lobby personnel instructed Sommerville to use the men's room because she "still possessed his (sic) male anatomy."
