• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Film/TV/Stream
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Tech/Science
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox

Saks Fifth Avenue Settles Suit In Which Retailer Defended Right To Discriminate Against Trans Employees

John Wright March 8, 2015

Jamal.Leyth

Saks Fifth Avenue has settled a lawsuit in which it initially claimed it had a right to discriminate against transgender employees. 

Transgender woman Leyth Jamal (above), a former sales associate for Saks Fifth Avenue at Houston's Galleria mall, brought a lawsuit last September against the company, alleging wrongful termination based on sex in violation of Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, in addition to a hostile work environment, retaliation and breach of contract.

In court filings responding to Jamal's lawsuit, attorneys for Saks shockingly alleged that Jamal wasn't protected against discrimination under Title VII. The company's court filings also misgendered Jamal and argued that Saks wasn't bound by the nondiscrimination policy in its employee handbook, which includes gender identity. 

WeissIn a landmark 2012 ruling, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that job bias against transgender workers qualifies as sex discrimination under Title VII. And in 2014, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the U.S. Justice Department was taking the position that transgender employees are protected under Title VII. 

Saks' anti-trans arguments prompted the Human Rights Campaign to suspend the company's score of 90 on the Corporate Equality Index. HRC later joined the National Center for Lesbian Rights in filing a brief in the case. 

Also getting involved were New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the Department of Justice. Finally, Saks relented and withdrew the motion in which it had argued transgender workers aren't protected under Title VII, saying the company would instead fight Jamal's lawsuit on the merits. 

Six weeks later, Fortune Magazine reports that the case has settled: 

On Wednesday, Jamal’s lawyers Jillian Weiss (above right) and Mitchell Katine filed a stipulation of dismissal of the case with prejudice. When asked about the terms of the settlement, Weiss told Fortune that the parties had amicably settled the lawsuit and they will have no further comments regarding the suit. Saks’ lawyer Michael Mitchell did not immediately return a request for comment.

Topics: LGBT Rights, Trans Rights More Posts About: discrimination, houston, LGBT Rights, Texas, Texas, Transgender

Related Posts
  • Swimming-Trans athlete Ivy slams FINA policy as ‘unscientific’
  • Sport-Hockey, triathlon join raft of sports reviewing transgender policy
  • U.S. Supreme Court backs public money for religious schools
  • Black gun owners to gain from Supreme Court overturning of New York license to carry weapons law

    Black gun owners to gain from Supreme Court overturning of New York license to carry weapons law

    Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Black people are more likely to be jailed for weapons possession than other New Yorkers — giving public defenders and civil rights advocates reason to support last …Read More »
  • Leaders at G7 mock bare-chested horseback rider Putin

    Leaders at G7 mock bare-chested horseback rider Putin

    Published by Reuters SCHLOSS ELMAU, Germany (Reuters) – Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations mocked the macho image of their absent adversary Vladimir Putin on Sunday, at a meeting in Germany dominated by the …Read More »
  • Turkey police break up Istanbul Pride march, detain dozens: AFP

    Turkey police break up Istanbul Pride march, detain dozens: AFP

    Published by Al-Araby Turkish police on Sunday forcibly intervened in a Pride march in Istanbul, detaining dozens of demonstrators and an AFP photographer, AFP journalists on the ground said. The governor’s office had banned the march …Read More »
  • Raiders‘ Carl Nassib Salutes Pride Month With Charity Effort

    Raiders‘ Carl Nassib Salutes Pride Month With Charity Effort

    Published by Sports Illustrated By Thomas Neumann Nassib commemorated Pride Month by revealing a charitable donation on Instagram. View the original article to see embedded media. Carl Nassib is a leader on and off the field …Read More »
Previous Post: « Gay Iconography: Shonda Rhimes’ Inclusive TV Empire
Next Post: SNL Rips Into Ben Carson’s ‘Homosexuality Is a Choice’ Comments in Weekend Update Volley: VIDEO »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Billie Eilish tells Glastonbury fans to scream away anxieties at history making headline slot

    Billie Eilish tells Glastonbury fans to scream away anxieties at history making headline slot

  • Landmark gun-safety bill heads to U.S. House after Senate passage

    Landmark gun-safety bill heads to U.S. House after Senate passage

  • Prosecutors seek 25-year prison sentence for Chauvin over breach of Floyd’s rights

    Prosecutors seek 25-year prison sentence for Chauvin over breach of Floyd’s rights

RSS Partner Links

  • HAPPY PRIDE — I'LL REPORT THIS WEEK ON TODAY'S EVENTS!
  • Sunday Round-Up: Madonna; Brittney Griner; Trixie Mattel; Gisele Shaw; Frankie Grande & more!
  • Snapped! Tom Daley & Dustin Lance Black in Paris!
  • Showtune Sunday: All about “Anything Goes”
  • Birthday Tribute: “I Love Lucy” icon Vivian Vance was born 113 years ago today
  • Sunday Comics
  • Speedo Sunday

Most Recent

  • Turn UP VOLUME  To Feel A Bit Better: Olivia Rodrigo And Lily Allen Dedicate F*** You Song to 6 Justices Of The Supreme Court At Glastonbury  Festival

    Turn UP VOLUME To Feel A Bit Better: Olivia Rodrigo And Lily Allen Dedicate F*** You Song to 6 Justices Of The Supreme Court At Glastonbury Festival

  • Black gun owners to gain from Supreme Court overturning of New York license to carry weapons law

    Black gun owners to gain from Supreme Court overturning of New York license to carry weapons law

  • Leaders at G7 mock bare-chested horseback rider Putin

    Leaders at G7 mock bare-chested horseback rider Putin

  • Turkey police break up Istanbul Pride march, detain dozens: AFP

    Turkey police break up Istanbul Pride march, detain dozens: AFP

  • Raiders‘ Carl Nassib Salutes Pride Month With Charity Effort

    Raiders‘ Carl Nassib Salutes Pride Month With Charity Effort

  • At Pride parades, revelry turns to resistance after Roe v. Wade reversal

    At Pride parades, revelry turns to resistance after Roe v. Wade reversal

  • Half Of LGBT People Have Symptoms Of Anxiety: Census

    Half Of LGBT People Have Symptoms Of Anxiety: Census

  • Anderson Cooper: Shirtless Richard Gere made me realise I was gay

    Anderson Cooper: Shirtless Richard Gere made me realise I was gay

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy
[towleroadmr] [towleroadtn]

Footer

Copyright © 2022 · Log in