Chosen gender
It is against the law to treat someone unfairly at work because of their chosen gender, that is, where someone chooses to live as a member of the sex opposite to their birth sex (transgender or transexuality).
Here’s an example:
| Shane was born female but lives as a male. Most people who know Shane don’t know that he is chosen gender. One of Shane’s work mates found out through a chance conversation and used the threat of telling others to get Shane to take on some of his work at busy times. Shane spoke to his manager but his manager said that he wasn’t going to interfere, and to toughen up if he wanted to be a real man. This is chosen gender discrimination. |
Also, an employer can’t require a person to wear the clothing of the sex that they don’t identify with. So, for instance, Shane’s boss could not require Shane to dress as a woman at work.
Chosen gender protection only applies to people who genuinely identify as members of the opposite sex. It does not apply to simply cross-dressing, or pretending to be a member of the opposite sex as a joke, for a party or in a play.
Last updated on Tue, 08/17/2010 - 13:46.
