In April 2012, through a case brought by Transgender Law Center, Macy v. Holder, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) ruled that transgender and gender non-conforming people are protected from workplace discrimination by Title VII, the federal statute that prohibits employment discrimination based on sex. This landmark ruling confirmed that federal law guarantees transgender people across the United States the right to be hired and to work free from discrimination.
In July 2013, the EEOC concluded Macy’s case and determined that she was indeed discriminated against, and awarded her damages.
This week, in a case brought by Lambda Legal, the EEOC again confirmed their commitment to investigating discrimination against transgender employees. The agency announced that a South Dakota grocery store has agreed to settle a case filed by a transgender employee, after the EEOC’s investigation showed that she was unfairly terminated simply for being herself.
If you have been discriminated against on the job, we encourage you to file a complaint with the EEOC. Our new guide will walk you through the process.