Gender Discrimination and Harassment in the Workplace 

 

Individuals whose gender identity, expression, or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth are often targets of discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Presently, 18 states, including Nevada and California explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. While these types of discrimination are not specifically prohibited under federal law at this time, there are legislative efforts to pass federal laws to prohibit such conduct.  The experience of F. TRAVIS BUCHANAN, ESQ., & ASSOCIATES, PLLC places it at the forefront of pushing for even greater protections under existing statutes and the passage of federal and local laws that would explicitly cover individuals who suffer discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression and transgender identity. 

 

The phrase “gender identity” refers to a person’s self-identification as a man or a woman, as opposed to a person’s anatomical sex at birth. Usually, a person’s gender identity matches the person’s anatomical sex. However, for a person who is transgender, gender identity does not align with anatomical sex, or the gender the person was assigned at birth. 

 

The phrase “gender expression” refers to how society perceives a person’s gender identity as male or female based on cues like clothing, haircut, voice, and name. Transgender people generally want their gender expression to match their gender identity, and not necessarily the gender they were assigned at birth. 

 

The term “transgender” is a generalized term used to describe a person who, in one or more ways, does not conform to society’s perception or stereotypes of gender identity and/or gender expression. This term includes: female and male cross-dressers, transvestites, drag queens or kings, female and male impersonators, intersexed individuals, pre-operative, post-operative, and non-operative transsexuals, masculine females, feminine males, all persons whose perceived gender or anatomic sex may be incongruent with their gender expression, and all persons with gender characteristics and identities who are perceived to be androgynous. 

 

In the workplace, gender identity, gender expression or transgender identity discrimination occurs when an employer discriminates against an employee because of their gender identity, the way the employee expresses his or her gender or because an employee is transgender. Such discrimination can manifest itself, for example, as: 

 

• adverse treatment of an employee after the employer finds out about the employee's gender identity or planned transition; 

 

• denying an employee access to workplace restroom facilities available to other employees; 

 

• requiring a transgender employee to use a restroom not consistent with the employee's gender identity or expression; or 

 

• any other negative employment action taken because of an employee’s gender identity, gender expression or transgender identity. 

 

State Laws 

 

Moreover, the state laws prohibiting this type of discrimination, generally, also prohibit employers from firing, demoting, harassing, or otherwise retaliating against an employee who complains about such discrimination. Complaining about gender identity, gender expression or transgender identity discrimination could mean, for instance, speaking to a superior, filing a complaint with Human Resources, filing a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, participating in a related legal proceeding, or any other type of conduct opposing discrimination. Even if the employee is wrong and the conduct is not illegal, the employee may be protected from retaliation if the complaint is based on a good faith belief that discrimination occurred. A retaliation claim is separate from a gender identity, gender expression or transgender identity discrimination claim. In other words, an employee need not show that he or she was discriminated against in order to prove retaliation. 

 

Contact Gender Identity | Gender Expression Discrimination Lawyers 

 

F. TRAVIS BUCHANAN, ESQ., & ASSOCIATES, PLLC has extensive experience handling matters involving individuals who have alleged that they have been discriminated against or harassed because of their gender identity, gender expression or transgender identity, as well as from illegal retaliation. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination because of your gender identity, gender expression or transgender identity or retaliation, please contact as soon as possible so we can start the intake process.