The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Virginia, in partnership with the law firm Butler Curwood, has initiated legal proceedings against Liberty University for allegedly terminating an employee based on her gender identity. The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, contends that Liberty University’s actions violate Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, among other categories (read more).
According to the complaint, Ellenor Zinski, who was employed as an Information Services Apprentice, disclosed her transgender identity to the university’s human resources department, indicating her intent to identify as a trans woman. She further mentioned her ongoing hormone replacement therapy but affirmed that her work ethic remained unchanged. Despite receiving positive performance feedback prior to this disclosure, Zinski was subsequently terminated. The university cited a contradiction with its Doctrinal Position as the reason for her dismissal.
The ACLU and Butler Curwood argue that the termination constitutes a breach of Title VII, a statute enforced by the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) (more on Title VII). As a grievance redress mechanism, Zinski had filed a Charge of Discrimination with the EEOC, which subsequently issued a Notice of Right to Sue. The lawsuit now seeks compensatory and punitive damages totaling $300,000, reinstatement or front pay, declaratory relief, attorney’s fees, and additional relief deemed appropriate by the court (ACLU press release).
This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by transgender individuals in the workplace. The ACLU and other advocacy organizations emphasize the prevalence of workplace discrimination, with statistics indicating that nearly one in three transgender individuals have encountered such unfair treatment. For further information, visit the original article on Jurist.