Pride month is celebrated every year in the month of June in honor of the Stonewall Uprising in 1969. The event was the catalyst for the Gay Liberation Movement in the U.S. In its aftermath, the last Sunday of the month of June was used to celebrate Gay Pride Day. Today, the celebrations encompass a month-long of events that feature pride parades, parties, picnics, concerts, and workshops. On a national level, these celebrations typically attract millions of people from around the world.
Pride month is much more than a time to celebrate, however. It is also a time to remember members of the community who have lost their lives as a result of hate crimes. Pride month is used to recognize and remember the efforts and impacts that lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, and queer people have had on a local, national, and international level.
California’s Anti-Discrimination Laws
The State of California takes LGBTQ rights seriously and has enacted anti-discrimination laws that pertain to employment and go in conjunction with federal laws. The following are just 2 major of many state and federal laws that serve to protect workers from being discriminated against.
- The Fair Employment and Housing Act – FEHA prevents discrimination based on a person’s sexual orientation. Employees do not need to be part of the LGBTQ community to be protected under this law.
- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – The EEOC enforces civil rights laws against discrimination in the workplace.
Examples of LGBTQ Discrimination Law Violations
In spite of state and federal protections, however, workers can still experience discrimination in the workplace. An employer can violate LGBTQ discrimination laws through the following:
- Denying an applicant a job, raising a worker’s pay rate, or refusing to give him or her benefits based on the worker’s perceived or actual gender identity or sexual orientation.
- Preventing a worker from having access to resources in the workplace that are otherwise available to other workers based on the worker’s perceived gender identity or sexual orientation.
- Denying the employee from access to supplementary training or educational program because of a perceived or actual gender identity or sexual orientation.
- Harassing and/or being vengeful against a worker who has filed a complaint over discrimination.
Fight For Your Rights; Obtain the Legal Support of an Experienced Attorney
If your potential or current employer has discriminated against you in violation of LGBTQ discrimination laws, there may be an opportunity for legal recourse. By taking legal action, remedies could include:
- Policy changes,
- Future lost earnings,
- Back pay,
- Attorney’s fees,
- Punitive damages,
- Reinstatement of a job,
- Hiring,
- Restitution for emotional distress, and
- Coverage for out-of-pocket expenditures
Consider seeking the support of a skilled and practiced attorney who has experience in handling workplace discrimination cases. Filing a claim against an employer can be a complex matter that is subject to time limitations; obtain the support of an attorney who can guide you as soon as possible.
The attorneys at SANFORD A. KASSEL, A Professional Law Corporation are dedicated to representing the rights of members of the LGBTQ community who have been discriminated against in the workplace. The firm has many years of dedicated experienced in handling workplace discrimination cases in the State of California.
