A Minnesota judge ruled Wednesday that national print-checking company Deluxe Financial Services, Inc. must pay Britney Austin — a transgender “woman” — $115,000.
According to Buzzfeed, the then-man Austin told DFS “she was transitioning to become a woman” back in 2011, “which led managers and coworkers to use anti-transgender slurs and ban her from the restroom that corresponds with her gender identity.”
Furthermore, Austin argued that DFS denied “medically necessary care under the Americans with Disabilities Act.”
Under the judge’s ruling, DFS can deny that it violated Title VII or Austin’s rights but is still forced “change its policies for transgender employees,” in addition to apologizing and awarding damages to Austin.
“We are extremely grateful to the EEOC for taking on this important case on behalf of our client and working side by side with us to achieve a settlement that marks yet another Title VII victory for transgender employees,” Austin’s attorney Jillian Weiss said in a statement.
“Discrimination against transgender employees is illegal under federal law everywhere in the United States. This case adds to the growing number of EEOC victories with the same conclusion.”