One of the problems we have getting people to understand the importance of a gender-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) is that many people believe we already have protections. Another is that people believe we don't need them.
And of course, the major problem is that people always believe there are more important issues to worry about. Transgender rights will never rise from the bottom of the list of priorities.
In order to address the first couple of itms, I think it is important to produce examples. And there was a glaring one recently in New York City.
Anastacia St. Clair-Hannah works as an executive housekeeper and chef. Recently she was hired on a trial basis by Caroline and Thompson Dean. After a two week trial, Caroline Dean told Anastacia that she was "very impressed" with her performance and she was offered $1000 a week for the first month and $1200 per week plus health insurance and benefit thereafter.
Caroline and Thompson Dean are not poor.
A couple of weeks later, Thompson Dean started referring to her as "disgusting" and "a freak" and the couple prohibited her from preparing their meals. On March 12 of this year Caroline Dean told Anastacia that she would be terminated the next day.
Why? A background check had revealed that she was transgender.
As a result, she and her husband were extremely uncomfortable having plaintiff anywhere near them or working for them.
Anastacia has filed a complaint in state Supreme Court in Manhattan against the Deans. The complaint alleges that the Deans also failed to pay her for overtime. The complaint alleges that Caroline Dean said that Anastacia's continued employment would look bad for her husband's image and that the plaintiff needed to see a psychologist.
Unfortunately for Ms. St. Clair-Hannah, New York state does not have employment protections for transgender people. Fortunately for her New York City does.
The family was unaware of Ms. St. Clair-Hannah's prior gender until her lawyer told them about it recently. The family is saddened that she now chose to file such a bogus lawsuit and will defend themselves vigorously and fully expect the complaint to be dismissed,
--Thomas Roberts, chairman of the corporate department at Weil, Gotshal & Manges
I almost included links to the probable Caroline and Thompson, but the lawyer portion of my brain cautioned me to rethink that. But they are not difficult to locate.