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Great Strides Made For Transsexual And Transgender Workers

Posted by: Bridgette P. LaVictoire on December 9, 2011.

While there are still some who do not understand that gender is not what is between one’s legs, but rather what is between one’s ears, there have been some improvements in the lives of transgender and transsexual workers in the United States of late. According to the Human Rigths Campaign, there have been some major strides towards protecting transgender and transsexual workers in the work place.

The Transgender Law Center tells us that the key findings of a recent HRC report are:

80% of rated employers include gender identity protections in their non-discrimination policies. Back in 2002, when the CEI began, it was only 5%.
Today over 200 major U.S. businesses include transgender -inclusive health care coverage that provides medically necessary transition-related care, tripling since last year.
50% of Fortune 500 companies now include gender identity in their employment nondiscrimination policy, a dramatic growth of 1,567% since 2002.

Masen Davis, the TLC Executive Director stated “While transgender people, especially people of color, continue to face discrimination at every level of society, we are inspired to see that more than ever businesses are realizing that healthy employees whose human dignity is respected make for a more motivated workplace. We extend our deepest thanks to all of the companies who have courageously stepped up for equality and we applaud the Human Rights Campaign and all the other organizations who were the catalyst for this wave of equality. We feel more energized than ever to make sure 100% of companies offer equal protections and health care coverage to transgender people. An end to discrimination in the workplace will transform the lives of thousands of struggling families.”

Recently, an employee at a Texas Macy’s was fired for deliberately violating the company’s policy regarding LGBT customers after she harassed a transgender teen who was shopping.