LGBT Employment Discrimination
Discrimination in the workplace is unlawful. Multiple local and federal laws protect employees from facing discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, and other factors. Unfortunately, many people still deal with discrimination at work. A common type of discrimination is based on a person’s perceived or actual sexual orientation.
Employment discrimination lawyer Dan A. Atkerson is ready to defend employees who have been treated differently because of who they are. He can help workers in Allen, TX, Plano, TX, Frisco, TX,
and surrounding areas consider their legal options after facing LGBT employment discrimination.
Legal Protection from Discrimination
There are numerous employment laws in place to ensure employees have a safe work environment that is free of discrimination or harassment. One of the most relevant anti-discrimination laws comes from Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This act makes it illegal to discriminate against an employee based on:
- Race
- Sex
- National origin
- Age
- Religion
- Disability
Sexual orientation is notably absent from this list. Although sexual orientation is not explicitly protected by the Civil Rights Act, that does not mean that there are no protections in place for workers who identify as LGBT.
There are local and federal laws that protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation. These laws apply exclusively to federal and government workers. These protections are beneficial to many, but, unfortunately, they exclude those who work in the private sector.
Protection for Employees in the Private Sector
Anti-discrimination laws based on sexual orientation are not clear cut for workers in the private sector. However, there are still legal options available to those who have faced harassment at work based on their sexual orientation or gender. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission allows for a gender discrimination suit to be filed by a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender individual who has experienced sex stereotyping at work.
In addition to gender discrimination protections, there are other laws that may provide legal options to workers who have faced LGBT discrimination. Depending on the details of each client’s case, we may be able to file a claim for:
- Wrongful termination
- Workplace retaliation
- Sexual harassment
Should I File a Claim?
Without explicit laws to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation, many of our clients wonder if they should file a claim. We cannot guarantee that any of our clients will get a favorable verdict in an employment discrimination suit. However, we work hard to gather the necessary evidence to build a strong case for our clients.
Additionally, Mr. Atkerson has a thorough understanding of the law. He knows the best way to approach an employment lawsuit so that the court is most likely to rule in our favor. In the past, Mr. Atkerson has successful collected substantial financial compensation for victims of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and wrongful termination.
Contact Us
If you have faced discrimination or harassment at work, you may be due financial compensation for resulting damages. To learn more about the protections provided by employment law, contact our legal practice at your earliest convenience or call (214) 438-4436 to set up a personal consultation with attorney Dan A. Atkerson.