Historic Victory!
TLC Client Wins Workplace Discrimination Case

Tamara Lusardi

I'm thrilled to report a tremendous victory in one of our cases -- a victory not just for our client, but for all trans people.

Tamara Lusardi is a disabled veteran and a civilian employee of the Army who lives in Alabama. After Tamara transitioned from male to female on the job, her supervisor continued to call her "sir" and "he," and she was told that she could not use the same restroom as all other female employees.

Tamara knew this was wrong. She filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency.

Thanks to Tamara's perseverance and Transgender Law Center's assistance, OSC has just issued a groundbreaking decision that the Department of the Army engaged in unlawful discrimination.

The OSC ruling is groundbreaking in its conclusion that some of the most common forms of harassment faced by transgender people should be recognized for what they are: unlawful discrimination. This decision makes clear that it's not acceptable to deny a transgender person access to the same restroom as everyone else, or keep calling her by her former name and pronoun for months after she transitions. It's hurtful and stigmatizing, it's discriminatory, and it violates federal law.

"I am so grateful that justice is finally being served," Tamara told us. "As a disabled veteran, I take great pride in my role protecting our soldiers from harm. Like anyone else, I just want the freedom to be myself at work. I hope my case and this decision will help other transgender people feel safe enough to bring their full authentic selves to work. This report makes clear that we don't have to put up with being mistreated on the job just because of who we are."

We couldn't be prouder of this ruling, or of our client.

In solidarity,

Masen Davis
Executive Director