EEOC: Pa. Trans Woman Has a Case Against Former Employer

A sporting goods store in Hamburg, Pa., finds itself in hot water after a former employee alleged that she was discriminated against and ultimately let go from her job as a result of her status as a transgender woman.

Kate Lynn Blatt began work at chain sporting goods store Cabela's around the time she first came out as transgender. She alleges that management was outright hostile, fighting her on everything from the right to wear a gender-appropriate uniform, to having a name tag that reflected her true identity, to being able to use the women's restroom.

While Pennsylvania does not have legislation in place that explicitly protects transgender individuals from such workplace discrimination, a number of federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission decisions have fallen in favor of transgender employees.

In Blatt's case, the EEOC ruled that her employer violated her rights as an employee when they subjected her to medical or visual testing prior to allowing her use of the women's restroom, concluding that Blatt has a right to sue on these grounds.

Blatt has not officially filed suit, though her attorney has indicated an intent to file in federal court.