You deserve to have a safe workplace regardless of who you are. Many individuals face workplace LGBTQ discrimination every day. Our Rochester employment lawyer is dedicated to bringing justice to these cases.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling in 2020 that upheld the 1964 Civil Rights Act to protect LGBTQ from discrimination, employers continue illegally violating their employees’ rights. These employees need to be held accountable for their wrongful actions. Please keep reading to learn more about LGBTQ discrimination in the workplace.
If you have faced harassment or discrimination in the workplace, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our office today to schedule a consultation with attorney Michelle Cimino.
What Workers Are Protected by the Law?
Title VII exists to protect workers from discrimination based on their race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. In order to fall under the protection of Title VII, your employer must have 15 or more employees; unfortunately, it does not apply to contract employees.
You can be protected by Title VII regardless of your citizenship.
According to the EEOC, Title VII also protects employees from workplace LGBTQ discrimination regardless of what the local or state laws say.
Employers are not allowed to hire, fire, discipline, demote, promote, etc., based on an employee’s gender identity or sexual orientation. They must also protect their employees from discrimination and harassment within the workplace, and that may mean creating a work environment that does not tolerate harassment.
Unfortunately, not every employer complies with the law. Employees all over WNY have faced LGBTQ discrimination at work to the point where their lives have been impacted profoundly.
Please keep reading to see some examples of cases where LGBTQ harassment and discrimination were present.
Examples of Workplace LGBTQ Discrimination
A gay schoolteacher was fired when they announced on social media that they were engaged to be married to a man. This is discrimination because an employer cannot fire a man for getting engaged to another man if that employer does not fire women for getting engaged to men.
A young woman was demoted from her job because she was transitioning. An employer is prohibited from demoting an employee based on gender identity, and demoting this woman violated her rights.
A queer woman faced harassment at her workplace. Men at the office would tell her they could turn her straight and advance on her sexually. Her boss was aware of this behavior and did nothing to stop it, even when she filed a complaint to HR. The employer violated her rights by allowing harassment to take place under their watch.
Heightened Levels of Mistreatment for Black LGBTQ Employees
It is no secret that racial bias remains a problem in this country. Black individuals are disproportionately discriminated against in the workplace, to begin with, and LBGTQ concerns are compounded based on racial discrimination.
While both white and black individuals face workplace LGBTQ discrimination, there is an elevated discrimination rate for black individuals.
According to the Center for American Progress, 87% of black LGBTQ workers reported discrimination affecting their hiring ability, while 55% of white LGBTQ workers reported the same.
If you are being mistreated at work based on your race, sexual orientation, or gender identity, please reach out to our Rochester employment lawyer today.
Schedule Your Consultation with Our LGBTQ Discrimination Lawyer
Please reach out to our Rochester employment lawyer right away if you believe you are being mistreated at work. Michelle Cimino is passionate about championing LGBTQ workers in their fight to get justice for harassment and discrimination. We must stand up to employers who do not comply with the law and create toxic work environments for marginalized groups. Michelle Cimino makes a formidable adversary for employers guilty of workplace LGBTQ discrimination.
