Wow, this is just breaking, and  is something that I did not think would ever make it through the courts in this country. Just heard this on Air America, so I have not read it all.

Gawd, I am going to be very interested in seeing what the conservatives are going to try with this. I still cannot believe this made it through. But it  just hit the air waves here, so we'll see.

Tammy

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>    http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=7288

Transgender Breakthrough

EEOC ruling that gender-identity discrimination is covered by Title VII is a ''sea change'' that opens the doors to employment protection for transgender Americans

An employer who discriminates against an employee or applicant on the basis of the person's gender identity is violating the prohibition on sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, according to an opinion issued on April 20 by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The opinion, experts say, could dramatically alter the legal landscape for transgender workers across the nation.

The opinion came in a decision delivered on Monday, April 23, to lawyers for Mia Macy, a transgender woman who claims she was denied employment with the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after the agency learned of her transition. It also comes on the heels of a growing number of federal appellate and trial courts deciding that gender-identity discrimination constitutes sex discrimination, whether based on Title VII or the constitutional guarantee of equal protection of the laws.

The EEOC decision, issued without objection by the five-member, bipartisan commission, will apply to all EEOC enforcement and litigation activities at the commission and in its 53 field offices throughout the country. It also will be binding on all federal agencies and departments.

In the decision, the EEOC states, ''[T]he Commission hereby clarifies that claims of discrimination based on transgender status, also referred to as claims of discrimination based on gender identity, are cognizable under Title VII's sex discrimination prohibition ....''

Tammy,
Every step forward... is a step in the right direction.
... and By the Way, I am a Conservative.

Your right Donna, and a conservative seems to be a lot more congenial in Canada than here in the States, I think the right-wing in the states could take some lessons from our neighbors...

They sure are slow to enforce this! It's been almost 50 years since that law!! I'm glad for any challenges/suits made when discrimination of tgs takes place and even more happy when they succeed. It is slowly getting better but I would like to see things go much faster. I live in Virginia and state law here still has zero protections for trans people in the work place and no recognition for hate crimes against us either. We do have an equal rights law for gays in the workplace but even that law is being challenged at every step by the conservatives here. As you know though gay and TG laws legally are not the same thing at all. I am so sad that this happens so often and it takes a law suit to find justice. How many countless tg's are there we never hear stories about who have been pushed to the fringes of society to have a life of poverty due to job discrimination. How many have been forced to remain in hiding and the untold pain inflicted upon their souls due to such basic human rights as having the dignity to work. It makes me sooo mad. At least it is getting better but many are still falling through the cracks.

I wish there were more "conservatives" like you DoannaI actually hope there are more so they can make some rational arguments and help stop the madness and hate within their ranks.

I'm a socialistso i guess we come in all shapes and sizes.

- Yes Jessica, we come in all "shapes" and sizes...
- Tammy, perhaps we should do the States a favor and take over... LOL

By god Donna, could you please take this insanity away over here, and while you're at it, run for president....hummmm but that will take about a billion dollars to run, believe it or not, we waste that kind of money here for all the campaigning for just one presidential candidate, sooo they are saying.
Huggs ...Tammy