Thursday, July 07, 2016

You Can’t Do That At Work

Because of Title VII an employer is required by law to maintain a workplace free from discrimination.
Bojangles sued over alleged harassment of transgender worker in Fayetteville
Fayetteville Observer
By Greg Barnes
July 6, 2016

The federal government filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Bojangles Restaurants Inc. alleging that a transgender person working at a Bojangles in Fayetteville was sexually harassed and retaliated against.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit on behalf of Jonathan Wolfe, the EEOC said in a news release.

According to the release, Wolfe "was repeatedly subjected to offensive comments about her gender identity and appearance. The belittling statements often demanded that Wolfe, who identifies and presents as a woman, engage in behavior and grooming practices that are stereotypically male, because that is the sex Wolfe was assigned at birth."
[…]
According to the release, the comments were made by the restaurant's manager and assistant managers. The release did not identify the managers or provide Wolfe's age or address.

The release said derogatory comments about Wolfe continued, even after she had reported them on at least two occasions.
Anyone want to guess what the company had to say?
Brian Little, spokesman for Bojangles Inc. in Charlotte, said the fast-food chain has a policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex.

"In this case, Bojangles' decision to terminate this employee's employment was based upon misconduct including insubordination, and had nothing to do with the employee's sex or gender identity," Little wrote in an email.
Let me guess what happened; Ms. Wolfe complained to the manger about the mistreatment and the manager told her to stop complaining and Ms. Wolfe didn’t, the manger then fired her for insubordination. This is what usually happens in these case when the employee complains about discrimination …the boys didn’t mean anything by calling you names  …you’re just not a good sport, can’t you take a little kidding? …they are just having a little fun these are what we usually hear when we complain about harassment on the job and we are the ones to get fired for complaining about the mistreatment.



This afternoon I am going to a Democratic fundraiser for state candidates. I am asked many times why? Why donate? Well mainly because the Republicans in the state have done everything in their power to derail LGBT rights in the state. They had proposed an amendment to have us register as trans people with the state DMV long before Texas proposed registering trans people, in 2011 a Republican senator proposed an amendment to the non-discrimination bill requiring all transgender people to register with the Department of Motor Vehicles just like rapist do with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. They said it was for our own protection.

Last year a Republican introduced a bill to strip our insurance coverage from us which was defeated in committee, the committee chairs let it die without even having a vote. That was because of strong Democratic opposition and a governor who was against the bill. The Republicans have nearly voted unanimously against LGBT legislation and the Democrats have nearly voted unanimously for LGBT legislation.

Instead of sending in a donation I attend the LGBT fundraiser for a very important purpose, to be a visible trans person. I get to shake hands with the Speaker of the House, talk to the state Comptroller, and other legislators and elected officials and show the trans flag still waves strongly.

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