More than 25% of transgender people have lost a job due to bias, and more than 75% have experienced some form of discrimination at work. This may mean harassment, privacy violations, or even violence on the job, which are all experienced at even higher rates by transgender people of color. Many transgender people face extreme levels of unemployment and poverty.
Transgender Utahns have many new State and federal rights and protections when it comes to employment.
On March 12, 2015, Governor Herbert signed SB 296 into law. This legislation adds the words "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" to Utah's anti-discrimination laws in order to establish workplace and housing protections for LGBTQ Utahns.
Click here to download some frequently asked questions about this new law
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has determined that discrimination against an individual simply because they are transgender is considered unlawful discrimination and is prohibited under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. This means that employers cannot discriminate against job applicants or employees in the following ways:
- Firing an employee because of gender identity or gender transition
- Firing an employee for not conforming to the employer’s gender-based expectations, preferences, or stereotypes
- Retaliating against workers who oppose or report discriminatory practices or file a complaint
Other adverse job actions prohibited under Title VII include prohibiting a transgender employee from using the appropriate bathroom for their gender identity (e.g. requiring a trans woman, a person who is transitioning from male to female, to use the men’s restroom); and persistent and purposeful use of a transgender employee’s former name or incorrect pronouns.
The EEOC accepts complaints from transgender people and has sued employers on behalf of transgender employees because of discrimination. Title VII protections apply to employers with 15 or more employees. These rights also apply to federal employees as well as federal contractors and their employees.
If you face discrimination, you have rights.
We encourage you to share your story or file a complaint.
Resources
- U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: What You Should Know About EEOC and the Enforcement Protections for LGBT Workers
- National Center for Transgender Equality: Employment
- Fact Sheet: Recent EEOC Litigation Regarding Title VII & LGBT-Related Discrimination
- Examples of Court Decisions Supporting Coverage of LGBT-Related Discrimination Under Title VII
- Federal Sector Cases Involving Transgender Individuals
- Addressing Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Discrimination in Federal Civilian Employment: A Guide to Employment Rights, Protections, and Responsibilities
- Executive Order 11246 Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity