US: US government sues companies over illegal sacking transgender employees
The US federal government has filed lawsuits against two companies which it says illegally dismissed transgender employees.
The US Equal Employment Commission brought the two lawsuits, which are the first of their kind, and argue that the 1964 Civil Rights Act was violated by a funeral home in Detroit and a health care firm in Florida.
One case was brought on behalf of Amiee Stephens, who previously worked as an embalmer at RG & GR Harris Funeral Homes from 2007. The lawsuit states that Stephen was sacked back in 2013, two weeks after she told her boss she planned to transition.
The second case was brought against the Lakeland Eye Clinic, which allegedly sacked a transgender employee under similar circumstances.
Both companies are yet to comment on the lawsuits.
