It Covers Everyone!

The gender inclusive non-discrimination law covers everyone… even non-trans people!

A CT woman had a hysterectomy. She claims her co-workers harassed her about a ‘sex change’
Hartford Courant
By Ed Stannard
April 25, 2024

A Connecticut woman, planning medical leave from her job in order to undergo a hysterectomy, was allegedly harassed by her supervisor and co-workers, who taunted her about whether she was having a sex-change operation, according to a lawsuit.

The woman was ultimately terminated from her job at Chase Family Movement Disorder Center in Vernon, according to her lawsuit against Hartford HealthCare, which owns the center.

The woman, an East Hartford resident, is claiming sexual orientation discrimination and hostile work environment against Hartford HealthCare.

[…]

Her supervisor responded by asking her whether she was a lesbian, the suit states. Later, the supervisor asked the woman, “Are you sure you won’t be out for a sex change?” it states.

According to the suit, other employees asked the woman about a sex change or said the supervisor had told them the woman was getting a sex change.

The law protects everyone, even cis-gender people!

Comments allegedly included, “How does it feel to be a dude?,” “We thought you were the girl in the marriage, not the guy,” and asking the woman whether she “was manly” because of her rumored sex change, according to the complaint.

The woman “became very upset and responded, ‘I am not a man,’ again asking for the harassment to stop,” the suit states.

Her supervisor told her that co-workers “felt they were ‘walking on eggshells’ and ‘felt weird’ around her” because of the alleged sex change and because she was a lesbian, according to the complaint.

Now Hartford Hospital has a gender clinic! They are pro trans but it goes to show you that a business can be supportive of us but when you get down to supervisors and employees the message might not get filtered down. But…

Tina Varona, senior director of media relations for Hartford HealthCare, said in an email, “While we do not comment on pending litigation by our current or former employees, we are committed to providing a workplace that promotes fair treatment, opportunity and advancement for all, and maintains robust workplace policies and reporting mechanisms to protect colleagues.

“We value the uniqueness of each person and embrace diverse backgrounds, sexual preferences, opinions and experiences,” Varona said. “We are proud of the dedication of our colleagues to create the DEIB —Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging — Council to increase diverse representation and retention in our workforce, and our CRG (Colleague Resource Groups) to bring colleagues together in support of an inclusive workforce.”

However, the message hasn’t gotten out to the employees. [That is one of my peeves with the HRC Corporate Equality Index, they company might have a great policy on paper but if it is not enforced it is worthless!]

 

When the non-discrimination law was passed, there were no limits on who was covered by the law, it covered everyone! Including non-trans people if they were being discriminated by trans people and as in the case here it protects non-trans people who are being harassed because people think that they are trans.